Agreement on realization of Urban Regeneration Project signed: UNSA Campus will be one of the new symbols of Sarajevo

Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Edin Forto, University of Sarajevo Rector, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Mayor of Novo Sarajevo, Dr. Hasan Tanović and the director of the Institute for Development Planning of KS Faruk Muharemović signed today the Agreement on the realization of the Urban Regeneration Project of the University of Sarajevo Campus.

The project is financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), and aims to develop a new master plan for the UNSA Campus in order to change part of the regulation plan Quadrant C1 Marijin Dvor within the Campus.

As Prime Minister Forto stated after the signing of the Agreement, the process of transforming the Campus began last week with the removal of dilapidated buildings. According to him, the master plan will show what the complex will ultimately look like.

“We owe special thanks to the European Investment Bank, with which we started the process three years ago, which resulted in donating one million marks for a master plan, and one of the best consulting companies will draw what the University wants,” said Prime Minister Forto.

He explained that the deadline for drafting a master plan is 12 months, followed by turning these ideas into a regulatory plan and investing. He added that all relevant institutions are involved in the project, but he emphasized that it is very important that citizens be included.

“Why not have a large park on campus? Why not connect the campus with the other part of the University across the main road? Why not connect it to the pedestrian zone on Wilson Promenade,” said Prime Minister Forto, urging citizens to follow. process development.

He expressed hope that the citizens will recognize this as one of the most important development projects in BiH.

“The infrastructure for the scientific, student and local community that we can build on that site in the next few years may become one of the new symbols of Sarajevo and the reason why someone wants to come and live and create in Sarajevo,” said Prime Minister Forto.

Minister of Science, Higher Education and Youth of KS, Aleksandra Nikolić, who attended the signing of the Agreement, thanked the EIB for the donation, which enabled the systematic shaping of the space for the prestigious University of Sarajevo.

Mayor Tanović reminded that the location of the Campus in previous years was a mockery and danger for the citizens. He said the relationship has changed today.

“With the arrival of the new administration and me as mayor, we have completely changed our attitude towards the University, and thanks to the rector and the KS government we have done everything to unlock the processes that have been stopped for years. I think we are on the right track urban, modern, new center of Sarajevo “, said Mayor Tanović, who reminded that the demolition of the buildings started last week, and that activities on the construction of the University Library were previously undertaken.

Rector Škrijelj underlined that the European Investment Bank recognized a serious partner at the University and set aside a grant that enabled us to be at the beginning of a long-term perspective activity that will enrich UNSA and the capital of BiH.

“There are three steps I would like to mention. One is the development of a master plan, the second is the development of conceptual solutions for the facilities that will be on campus and the third is the development of a feasibility study. investors of the construction of the future UNSA Campus. All this would not have been possible to bring to this level even if we did not have the prior consent, ie the support and recommendation of the KS Government “, said Rector Škrijelj.

Director Muharemović said that the Institute he heads will make all its resources available for the implementation of this project.

“The master plan that is currently in force was adopted about 15 years ago, but today's trends and time require that the oldest university in BiH has a better and more feasible master plan,” said Director Muharemović.

Matt Lally from the British company “Arup”, which works with local partners as a consultant on the implementation of the Project, praised the coordination of institutions and said he was looking forward to cooperation. He said that the master plan will be fantastic, because it will contain combined ideas of world and local experts.