The Albertov Campus is an investment project of Charles University, involving the Faculty of Science, the First Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. It involves the construction of an educational center with an emphasis on research linked to teaching. It is to be built on the site of the current Albertov cafeteria and will serve as a hub for medical and biological disciplines. For Charles University and the participating faculties, this represents an extraordinary developmental challenge and one of the largest investment projects in recent decades.

The Biocenter encompasses six key fields: Biochemistry and Metabolism, Cellular Systems in Health and Disease, Infection and Immunity, Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Chemical Synthesis, Materials Research, and Nanotechnology, and Spectral and Structural Materials Research.

Each of these fields has its own specific equipment requirements—ranging from offices and seminar rooms to lecture halls and teaching laboratories, as well as technical and storage spaces. Particular emphasis is placed on hygiene standards, maintaining stable conditions (temperature, humidity), and other technological requirements. The space requirements for each discipline range from 1,000 to 4,000 m². An additional approximately 5,000 m² is allocated for so-called core facilities, i.e., shared infrastructure. This includes comprehensive facilities for teaching and research: laboratories for analysis and sample preparation, repositories, laboratory animal housing areas, and experimental animal facilities with the necessary technical equipment.

In terms of teaching, the Biocenter will offer a large lecture hall, several smaller lecture halls and seminar rooms, as well as laboratories. The total capacity will be approximately 700 students, which corresponds to the maximum number of students present during the busiest hours of the workweek across all levels of higher education. The number of Biocenter employees is estimated at approximately 810. Roughly 70% of the building’s floor space consists of educational laboratories with the necessary facilities. The Biocenter is thus being established as a modern educational center with a direct overlap into research related to teaching.

The Biocenter on the Albertov university campus will be an internationally open, inspiring environment for both students and academic staff. The infrastructure being developed as part of the Albertov Campus project will reinforce the area’s character as a “university district.” The teaching spaces will include a large lecture hall with adequate conference facilities, teaching laboratories, as well as smaller lecture halls and rooms designated for seminars. A space will be reserved in the Biocenter for a night study hall.

The planning and construction of the center are being handled as a single integrated unit. An important aspect of the project was the emphasis on the energy sustainability of the new building. Given the location and significance of the project, the architectural design was selected through a design competition.

The following construction works are planned to be completed by the end of 2026:

• Removal and demolition of existing structures and other necessary dismantling and demolition work
• Completion of most utility connections or relocations
• Construction activities related to the chlorination station
• Complete securing of the construction pit, including the northern retaining wall
• Complete execution of earthworks, excavation of soil to the elevation level for the building’s foundation
• Complete execution of the building’s foundation (piling, utility trenches, foundation slab)
• Drilling of geothermal wells
• Complete horizontal waterproofing and vertical insulation
• Construction of the building’s load-bearing frame up to the 5th floor
• Installation of utilities (horizontal sewer lines, waste lines, water distribution, electrical wiring, HVAC, etc.) in accordance with the construction schedule

Due to delays in the construction of the Albertov campus, Charles University will not be able to utilize approximately 1.4 billion CZK from the National Recovery Plan. Construction was delayed due to archaeological research and necessary modifications to the building’s foundation. The project is expected to be completed in 2028.