The Albertov Campus is an investment project of the Charles University, undertaken with the participation of the Faculty of Sciences, the First Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University. The planned development involves the construction of two research and education centres called ‘Biocentre’ and ‘Globcentre’. The two new centres would replace the existing Albertov university canteen and the parking lot of employees of the Faculty of Natural Sciences. The Biocentrum should become the new centre for medical and biological sciences, while the ‘Globcentrum’ is intended to function as an interdisciplinary centre for the research of global changes. The Charles University and all its participating faculties view this as an extraordinary development challenge and the largest investment in several decades.

The Biocentre and Globcentre at the University’s Albertov campus shall be an inspirational, international environment for both students and academic staff. The infrastructure created for the Albertov Campus project supports the area’s character as a “university quarter”. Teaching spaces will include a large lecture hall with adequate conference facilities, teaching laboratories and smaller lecture and seminar rooms. Space will be reserved in the Biocentre for a night study room.

The planning and building of the two centres is currently addressed as one integral whole. The project emphasises energetic sustainability of the new buildings. Given the location and importance of the project, the building design was be chosen by a public tender.

The location of the planned construction of the centres can be found on the map in this link.

Fields of study

Biocentre

• Biochemistry and metabolism

• Cellular systems in health and illness

• Infection and immunity

• Genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics

• Chemical synthesis, materials research, and nanotechnology

• Spectral and structural research of materials

Globcentre

• Climate changes and atmospheric processes

• The dynamics of natural processes and changes in the landscape

• Socioeconomic and demographic manifestations of global processes and changes

• Geodynamics

• Geochemistry, biogeochemistry, and toxicology

• Ecosystems, biodiversity, and biological invasions

• Geoinformatics and geostatistics

In addition to new spaces for education and research related to teaching, the centres will provide adequate social spaces that are now standard components of modern university campuses:

Public spaces in buildings, exhibition spaces

The Globcentre and Biocentre buildings should have adequately spacious and representative entrance areas. In the Globocentre building they could also be used as a space for "science on sphere". In the Biocentre building, it is envisaged that poster exhibitions could be held in such an entrance space. The space should also be connected to a large auditorium (a connection to the café seems ideal). In both cases, a reception area with facilities will be located in the entrance area.

Cafes

The Biocentre seems to be an ideal location for a café near the large lecture hall, with a connection to the poster exhibition space, and a suitable connection to the club (even as a separate part of it), as well as a location for the café as part of the entrance area. A smaller café is planned for the Globcentre, again with a suitable location near the entrance. The cafés should, among other things, create an opportunity for academic discussions (i.e. placing power outlets at tables for laptops, etc.). The cafés will also include a student club.

Sports and relaxation facilities, canteen

The Globcentre is to include sports and relaxation facilities and a children's group. A canteen (with a capacity of 1,500 meals per day) will be located in the building to replace the temporary canteen.