Foundation stone ceremony for the expansion building FH IV of FH Kufstein Tirol

On the foundation stone ceremony for the expansion building FH IV of the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, the Foundation Chairperson of the FH Kufstein Tirol-Private Foundation Franz Mayer welcomed many guests: Governor Günther Platter, Members of the Provincial Government Mayor Ing. Alois Margreiter and Christofer Ranzmaier, District Administrator Dr. Christoph Platzgummer, Mayor Mag. Martin Krumschnabel as representative of the city of Kufstein and Chairperson of the Association for International University of Applied Sciences Degree Programs & Further Training Kufstein Tirol Mag. Hannes Bodner as well as other invited guests.

Time capsule with contemporary items immured

Managing Director Prof. (FH) Dr. Thomas Madritsch of the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol and DI (FH) Bernhard Eidherr of Fachhochschul Errichtungs- und Betriebs GmbH, together with Architect Mag. arch. Dieter Henke filled the time capsule with building plans, daily newspapers from 9/21/2018, information about the polytechnic and greetings from both donors, the city of Kufstein and the Polytechnic Association.

Governor Günther Platter, together with Mayor Mag. Martin Krumschnabel and Chairperson of the Polytechnic Association Mag. Hannes Bodner handed over the time capsule to the managing director of Bodner Bau Mag. Thomas Bodner who immured it in the foundation of FH IV.

“We are proud to have laid the cornerstone today for building phase IV of the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol and also started the redesign of the City Park. Many thanks to everyone who contributed,” commented Mayor Krumschnabel on the result. “The expansion building of FH Kufstein Tirol is an important step for the educational location of Tirol. Modern research and innovative teaching not only require state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture halls, but also sufficient space for students and lecturers,” added Governor Günther Platter.

Solid financing – construction begins in July

In the fall of 2017, the municipal council unanimously decided on the development. The province of Tirol, the city of Kufstein and the polytechnic will equally bear the financing costs of the project in the amount of € 11.5 million. “For us, the close partnership with the city of Kufstein was especially important with respect to implementation since the city also financed the gymnasium and public washroom,” added Mayer.

The construction phase began in the middle of July 2018 with the excavation of the construction pit. Planning was performed by the architects Mag. arch. Dieter Henke and Mag. arch. Marta Schreieck who were also responsible for the existing building parts of the polytechnic. The inauguration of the expansion building and the newly designed City Park is planned for the spring of 2020.

More space for Kufstein citizens, pupils, students and researchers

Seminar rooms, laboratories, lecture halls and offices are being developed for FH Kufstein Tirol with its 2,100 students and 500 employees in teaching and administrative positions.

At the basement level of the new building, the city of Kufstein is building a gymnasium that will predominantly be made available to Kufstein sports clubs in addition to the International School Kufstein Tirol (ISK) with its approximately 100 students. A new public washroom is also being built at the western end of the FH IV. “We are very proud of the new Library Center,” stated Mayer with delight. “We succeeded in joining the library of the city of Kufstein with the polytechnic library. And we will all benefit from these developments.

Water playground and event area in the City Park

The redesigned City Park includes a slightly hilly quiet zone that invites passers-by to linger. The children’s playground will be expanded with a directly adjacent water playground. A fixed area between Franz Josef-Platz and the new quiet zone is envisaged for numerous events that are to be held in the City Park.

The driving direction in the polytechnic parking garage has been changed – the entry location is now at the Music School, the exit at the Andreas Hofer-Straße. A short-term parking zone is being developed along the polytechnic building. Parking in the polytechnic garage is permitted according to all usual local conditions.

Handover and opening of the new boulder wall

A new boulder wall along the northern facade of the third building part of the polytechnic has already been completed within the context of redesigning the City Park. The boulder wall provides an opportunity for pupils of the ISK, polytechnic students and especially for children and adolescents of the city of Kufstein to learn about the joy of climbing.

“We started this initiative together with the city of Kufstein and are delighted that we can open the climbing wall at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol today. I especially want to thank the city of Kufstein and the Kufstein section of the Austrian Alp Association as they were willing to take over maintenance and supervision of the wall,” stated Foundation Chairperson Mayer.

“We are delighted to have a new additional boulder wall in our City Park on which people can practice the beautiful sport of climbing. The 35-m² wall provides eight differently colored routes according to various difficulties. The demand for climbing will increase again, especially now following the Climbing World Championship,” said Uli Gradl-Zöttl, chairperson of the Kufstein section of the Austrian Alp Association Kufstein, with excitement.

Mayor Krumschnabel and Chairperson of the University Mayer handed the Chairperson of the Austrian Alp Association Gradl-Zöttl a symbolic climbing hold.