We have completed the structural shell of a major scientific and educational centre, the MUNI BioPharma Hub
Construction work on the exceptional MUNI BioPharma Hub has reached another milestone - the completion of the structural shell. This new scientific research and educational centre of Masaryk University is being built on the Bohunice campus in Brno as the second largest investment in the history of the university with a budget of over CZK 4 billion. IMOS Brno is the leading partner of the construction consortium.
The construction of the centre, which is scheduled for completion in June 2026, is progressing on schedule. Only eighteen months have passed since the construction work began. "Currently, work is underway on the installation of the HVAC, cooling, sewage and electrical systems. At the same time, the construction of brick and plasterboard partitions and the installation of window panels and facade elements are in progress, with the aim of closing and waterproofing the building as soon as possible to eliminate negative weather effects on the next stages," concluded Mr. Robert Suchánek, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of IMOS Brno and leading partner of the construction consortium.
State-of-the-art multidisciplinary facilities
The MUNI BioPharma Hub will offer top-class facilities for more than 2,000 students, researchers and professionals mainly from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science. Teaching and research activities here will focus on pharmacy, molecular biology and biotechnology. The facility will have a Preclinical Centre and a Centre for Molecular Medicine offering high-tech equipment for the development and production of pharmaceuticals, including an experimental line in clean rooms.
Cutting-edge laboratories for research and innovation
A significant part of the building will be dedicated to specialised laboratories. The building will house a clean room experimental line that will focus on the development and small-scale manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. This facility is quite unique in the Central European region and will allow future pharmacists direct contact with the highest level of manufacturing standards. For example, scientists will have access to a BSL3 security level facility for working with high-risk pathogens, equipped with a hermetically sealed envelope, separate pressure regime and a fully backed-up decontamination system. Other specialist workplaces include a Zebrafish laboratory for research on freshwater fish with a capacity for up to 30,000 fish, and facilities for rearing more than 7,000 laboratory mice.
Linking teaching with practice
The western wing of the building will serve the Faculty of Pharmacy and will house a high-performance IT centre operated by the Institute of Computer Technology of Masaryk University. The right wing will be allocated for research purposes. Thanks to the connection of state-of-the-art equipment and modern infrastructure, the centre will enable not only teaching but also direct transfer of scientific knowledge into practice.
Modern construction standards
An equally important element of the building is the emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. The building is designed as a low-energy building using renewable energy sources. A geothermal borehole system, consisting of 53 deep boreholes 199 metres deep, will serve as the primary source of heating and cooling. The heat from the data centre will be used to preheat the air in the air-conditioning unit and to temper the garage. A rooftop photovoltaic power plant with 104 panels will cover the building's own consumption, with surplus energy stored in a battery system. The green roofs, along with rainwater storage tanks, will help reduce the heat load and efficient water management.
The MUNI BioPharma Hub represents an investment in the long-term development of higher education and research. With its concept, equipment and sustainable operation, it sets a new standard for similar buildings throughout Central Europe. The cooperation of all parties involved facilitates the creation of an infrastructure that will be ready to respond to the needs of modern science and society even in the horizon of several decades.
Watch the video and photographs from the topping-out ceremony, which took place in mid-April with the participation of top politicians and members of the academic community.
