13.05.2024
“A dream of many years is coming true,” emphasized the Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAC), Professor Panagiotis Zafeiris, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the private TEPAC student residences being built in Cyprus, in the former settlement of Berengaria, in Kato Polemidia . The ceremony took place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in the presence of the President of the Republic.
“Laying the first stone of our new student residence is not only a ceremonial act, but also a symbolic beginning of a new chapter in the history of our university,” said the rector, noting that “with this new project we strive not only to build affordable, welcoming and modern residential facilities for our students, but also to creating a dynamic environment that will enhance their academic and social experiences.”
In his address to the student community, Professor Zafeiris noted that “here we are building for you more than just a dormitory. We are building a stronger future for our university and for each of you”, speaking at the same time of “a complex of buildings that is the jewel of the municipality of Polemidia ”. He also stated that “the first 154 rooms and some outdoor areas are expected to be delivered by 2026, with the project expected to be completed in 2027.”
In conclusion, the rector thanked everyone who contributed to the implementation of this magnificent project, with special mention to the President of the Republic, the Minister of Education, the Mayor of Polemidia and the employees of the TEPAC Property Management Service.
In his greeting at the event, the President of the Council, Mr. Costas Galatariotis, among other things, stated that “the current grand project here at Kato Polemidia is the most important project in the history of the university and will rightfully become a starting point”, noting that the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the student dormitory building “is held solemnly, since in This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the university.”
He further stated that “the implementation of the university’s strategic planning includes its development in the Second and Third Poles, which we have identified as an immediate and absolute priority. This plan includes, among other things, the construction of a Model Medical Center at the Old Hospital in collaboration with OKYPY, as well as the construction of buildings for the School of Communication and Media and the School of Fine and Applied Arts.”
He concluded by assuring that TEPAC will “continue to work with diligence and dedication, having as its main objective and requirements the realization of the goals set for the progress and development of education in Cyprus.”
For his part, the Mayor of Kato Polemidia, Mr. Nikos Anastasiou , said, among other things, that “by laying the first stone of the foundation of student residences, we move from theory to practice and now place our municipality on the map of university municipalities. There is no greater blessing than to host a university like TEPAC in your city.”
In his greeting, the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides , noted that “today’s ceremony is proof of the dynamic development of TEPAC University and the recognition it has received in recent years, deservedly managing to establish itself as a renowned institution in the field of higher education in Cyprus and for its outside.”
“With seven distinct faculties, dozens of academic programs at all levels and thousands of students and alumni, the university can demonstrate significant achievements in both research, academics and social impact. And for me it is no coincidence that it already occupies very high positions in prestigious world-famous ranking lists, and since 2020 it has been a full member of the European University Network,” he emphasized.
He also stated that “the private student residence facilities of the Cyprus University of Technology are expected to make a significant contribution to the further development of the university and enable students to achieve their goals and successfully complete their studies. They should also become a space for creativity, socialization, exchange of ideas and experience – and the architect took all this into account when designing student dormitories – where university students will not only live, but also enrich their educational experience and build friendships that will last forever,” – concluded the President.
The project was developed after an open architectural competition by the architectural firm Iraklis Papachristou and is estimated at 35,000 sq.m. indoor premises, where, in addition to almost 500 beds, including rooms for people with disabilities, there will be underground parking spaces, student reception offices, lounges, daily activity areas, a gym, etc.
