Reconstruction and Extension of the Building of the Faculty of Architecture UMNE in the Amount of 3.5 Million Euros Planned

Reconstruction and extension of the building of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Montenegro, worth 3.5 million euros, for which a tender was recently announced, was the reason for today's solemn meeting at this faculty, with high-ranking officials who supported this project. Dean of the Faculty, Svetlana Perović, PhD, thanked  participants in this meeting for their support in initiating the tender, namely management of the University: the Chairperson of the Steering Committee UMNE Rajka Glušica, PhD, Rector of UMNE Vladimir Božović, PhD; and the Minister of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, Ratko Mitrović, PhD, Director of the Public Works Administration Boro Lučić, Deputy Vice President of the Committee on Education, Science, Culture and Sports and Member of the Parliament of Montenegro Dr. Dejan Đurović. She also expressed her gratitude to the former Dean and professor of the faculty, Svetislav Popovic, PhD, for efforts made in previous years and providing project documentation, to continue construction of the facility with a total gross area of ​​about 5,000 m2.

Chairperson Glušica said that this is a historic moment for the Faculty of Architecture, since its foundation in 2006, hence creating better working conditions for professors and students.

"The Government of Montenegro has recognized importance of the University and has foreseen more than 2.5 million euros of investments in the capital budget, and it is up to us to implement them. In addition to creating better working conditions, it is important to support good ideas and awaken critical thinking. The university is the backbone of a society where students are educated - future of the state ", Chairperson Glušica said.

Rector Božović pointed out that architecture is all about space and beauty in space, and the extension of the Faculty of Architecture is a story about the persistence of professors of this faculty that lasted for years and this year resulted in obtaining funds and continuing the process. He expressed eagerness of the management of the University of Montenegro to provide full support to the Faculty of Architecture, starting from initial phase, implementation, and completion of this project.

"Existing and developing in 800 m2 of unfinished building, without adequate space capacity required by the study program of architecture, was demotivating," Dean Perovic said, for whom adoption of the capital budget of Montenegro and tendering is a new source of optimism in recognizing importance of the Faculty of Architecture. Minister Mitrović stated that he tried, as a professor, as far as he is competent, to improve conditions at the Faculty of Architecture, and that this project is a necessary minimum for improved conditions in creating quality staff."Looking from the current perspective, future of the state is partly at the Faculty of Architecture, because its staff and visionary spatial and urban planning will determine the manner of development for the next twenty years," Mitrovic said. MP Đurović, as well as Chairpesron Glušica, pointed out that professors and students must be louder when it comes to representing their interests and that they should insist on increasing investment in education, which is at a low level in Montenegro, supporting the Rector. Božović, who is fighting hard for better conditions for studying and teaching. The Public Works Administration has announced a tender for selection of contractors, and the value of the public procurement is 2.9 million euros without VAT, or about 3.5 million with VAT included. Director Lucic pointed out that the experience so far has shown that, despite the rise in prices of construction materials, it has shown that the interest of bidders in larger projects, such as this one, is always great. Today's meeting was also attended by the Vice Dean for International Cooperation, Slavica Stamatović Vucković, PhD, Vice Dean for Science Vladimir Bojković, Assistant Professor, previous dean of the Faculty of Architecture Svetislav Popović, PhD, representative of associates in the Faculty Council Dr. Ema Alihodžić Jašarović, and student representative in the Faculty Council Momčilo Hadžiristić. Dean Perović mentioned that she owes her gratitude, among others, to the Member of the Parliament of Montenegro, Vladimir Joković, for his wholehearted support. "Not everything is resolved, we live in a complex social context, challenges are various, but I believe that support in these efforts will persist and that there will be more and more of them who will recognize the importance of the Faculty of Architecture, as a scientific and educational institution focused on creating professional staff that aspires to shape a sustainable built environment having competencies for solving complex spatial problems ", Dean Perović concluded.