Halfway through the construction of the Pontifical University

The first stage of the new teaching building construction for the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków has reached 50% progress. The general contractor, NDI Group, is completing the shell of the building. The implementation of the second stage of the investment, i.e. finishing works, installations and landscaping, will start soon.

NDI Group is the general contractor for a new teaching building with underground car park for the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków. The project involves the construction of a new five-storey building: four above-ground floors and one underground floor to house lecture halls and classrooms, among other facilities.

The project is divided into two stages. The first includes earthworks, reinforced concrete and structural works, roofing, external cladding and façade construction. The second stage consists of finishing works, including electrical, telecommunications and sanitary installations, as well as landscaping around the building and connecting it to the existing library building.

What has been done so far?

“So far we have been working on the first stage of the project, the aim of which is to achieve a closed shell state. Work progress is approaching 50%. Work on the reinforced concrete structure of the building is practically complete, as is work on the insulation layers of the underground part and some work on the networks in the area. We will soon begin to assemble the timber structure, on which we will construct the roof layers. We have already begun preparations for the installation of the glass and aluminium façades. We are also working on the networks in the landscaping area, including the installation of a retention tank in the form of a pipe with a diameter of 1400 mm and a length of over 200 m,” says Michał Stachoń, NDI Group Project Director.

The Investor has recently confirmed that NDI Group will carry out the second stage of works, i.e. finishing works, landscaping and installations. “Within a month we plan to start work on the interior of the building,” adds Michał Stachoń.

A key moment on site will be to make the whole building airtight, so that installation of the delicate interior finishes can begin as soon as possible. The building has been designed to the highest acoustic parameters, so the materials and solutions used must also be the best.

“All the jointing and installation details have to be worked out and agreed not only with the architect but also with the acoustic consultant. We are discussing the masonry materials and the façades. We plan to soundproof the classrooms, the acoustic system of the lecture halls and even the ventilation and air-conditioning systems, which will also be analysed by the acoustic consultant,” explains Michał Stachoń, NDI Group Project Director.

State-of-the-art BIM technology

Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has been implemented on this site.

“The main benefit of using a BIM model in the design is the ability to create a bill of quantities and quantity survey of the work carried out to date, which saves time for construction staff, particularly works managers and other engineers. We can also show the Investor in detail when and what work has been carried out and what we will be doing in the near future. The BIM model also allows us to identify potential collisions before they occur on the construction site,” says Marcin Majta, NDI Group BIM Manager.

The gross covered area of the teaching building for the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków is over 2,800 m2, its cubic capacity is 61,000 m3, and the usable area of the new building will be as much as 10,538.38 m2.