The Széchenyi István University is continuously improving its infrastructure and renovating its buildings, the latest stage of which is the completion of the energy upgrade of the buildings I, III and IV of the János Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. The completed investments were viewed on site by Prof. Dr. Csaba András Dézsi, Mayor of Győr.

For Széchenyi István University, it is of paramount importance to contribute to high-quality education, academic life, and research, development and innovation activities in cooperation with industry, by providing an appropriate environment and modern infrastructure. To this end, in recent years, investments have been made such as the construction of the Innovation Centre in Zalaegerszeg and the Innovation Centre in Győr, the Smart Farm in Mosonmagyaróvár as well as the renovation of the castle and its surroundings in Óvár, the centre of the Albert Kázmér Faculty of Mosonmagyaróvár.

In addition, the university has carried out energy-saving renovations of several of its facilities in Győr and Mosonmagyaróvár in the framework of a major EU tender worth nearly HUF 7.5 billion. In the project "Energy efficiency development of the Győr campus of Széchenyi István University", KEHOP-5.2.2-16-2017-00110, the administrative building of the Győr campus, Building E, the centre of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, the Apáczai Faculty II, the Bridge Student and Teachers Club, the Hotel Famulus, the Post Office building, the Special College Builiding on Budai street, the Outer Student Hall of Residence and the building of the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences on Szent Imre street have already been renewed.  In Mosonmagyaróvár, the reconstruction of the C building on Lucsony Street, the canteen, the Deák Square education building on Deák square and the Várkapitány (Castle Captain's) building were also completed. In the fourth phase of the project, the energy modernisation of the other three buildings of the Apáczai Faculty was also completed, which was presented by the experts during a site visit on 25 March. Dr. Attila Pongrácz, Dean of the Faculty, emphasized that a new era began in the life of the institution in 2016, when it joined Széchenyi István University.  "Since then, a number of positive changes have taken place, strengthening the faculty's visibility and development. Significant developments have been made with national, European and university funding. The internal renewal of the faculty is just as important," he said.

Participants of the site tour in front of the building of the Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Humanities Education and  Social Sciences, 42 Liszt Ferenc Street (Photo: András Adorján)

Nóra Mészáros, head of the Tender Directorate of Széchenyi István University, explained that since 2017, the energy reconstruction of 17 buildings of the university has been completed within the framework of the project. "In addition to the replacement of nearly three thousand windows and nearly one thousand radiators, this included the construction of about 35 thousand square metres of façade and slab insulation, the installation of a solar panel system with a total output of nearly 300 kilowatts, and the modernisation of building services systems. As a result of the energy renovation, energy savings of 18-26 percent have already been achieved, not counting the newly completed buildings," she said.

On behalf of the city, Mayor Prof. Dr. András Csaba Dézsi congratulated the implemented developments. "The Széchenyi University and the Apáczai Faculty play an outstanding role in the life of Győr, and contribute to the fact that the graduates of the University of Győr take their feeling for Győr with them into the world, along with the high quality knowledge they have acquired, which is useful both in the domestic and international labour market. I would like to thank the staff of the institution for their work in strengthening the city and the region", said the mayor, who pointed out that the university is a true community of one, contributing to the development of the region. "Our aim is to support the daily work of our staff by creating a modern environment, which will help them to provide high quality education, quality publications and to help our institution to move up the international rankings" - said Dr. Bálint Filep, President of Széchenyi University. He thanked the staff, the contractors, the mayor, the members of the Parliament, Róbert Balázs Simon and Ákos Kara, and the government for their support in making the project a success. "Thanks to these investments, the buildings belonging to the faculty - including the newly completed Öveges Kálmán Elementary School, which was renovated last year - have not only become more energy efficient, but also beautiful. Their restored exterior is worthy of the city centre of Győr and the faculty's more than two centuries long tradition," he said.

Norbert Geszler, project director of West Hungária Bau Kft., spoke about the details of the construction, the results of which were also presented to the participants during the tour.

The Faculty's building No. I, located at 42 Liszt Ferenc utca in Győr, is a locally listed building complex built in the 1920s. The modernisation included the insulation of the façades of buildings A, B, C and D, the replacement of the windows and doors and the renovation of the also listed entrance door. The modernisation of the building services system included the installation of a new state-of-the-art boiler.

The Apáczai-kar building No. III at 5 Türr István Street, was built in the 1970s. As part of the development, the façade windows were replaced, the façade was insulated, the flat roof was insulated and waterproofed and the attic was insulated. In addition, a solar panel system was installed and a number of conservation works were carried out. In addition to the boiler replacement, the radiators were fitted with thermostatic valves.

The building IV of the Apáczai Faculty at 10 Gárdonyi street, which is about 100 years old, is under local protection. In building A, the shear shutters on the third floor have been replaced, the attic slab has been insulated and a solar panel system has been installed. The insulation of the façade of building B, the roof and all windows and doors have been replaced. In addition to the thermal insulation of the façade of building C, the flat roof was insulated and waterproofed, a solar system was installed and the joints in the brickwork were cleaned.

The total value of the renovation of the three buildings was around two billion forints.

As part of the project, the Faculty of Humanities Education and Social Sciences of the Apáczai Csere János Faculty at 42 Liszt Ferenc Street....

..Türr István street 5...

... and the building at 10 Gárdonyi Géza Street were renewed (Photos: András Adorján and Máté Dudás)