Support grows for IT:U campus in former Kika building

The former Kika furniture store in Linz could become the permanent home of the new digital university IT:U, with the proposal receiving broad support from responsible officials, ORF reported on Tuesday.

Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Linz Mayor Dietmar Prammer and Upper Austria Governor Thomas Stelzer all responded positively to the idea. The building in Urfahr has stood empty for about a year and a half.

An architecture competition could be held before summer next year. The university could begin operating at the location in 2031, according to the Science Ministry.

The move would end a lengthy search for a permanent campus, which began after IT:U had already started operating. The digital university is currently spread across several buildings, including the Science Park near Johannes Kepler University.

The temporary arrangement does not offer enough space for the university’s planned full capacity of about 5,000 students and 150 teaching staff.

The federal real estate company Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft, or BIG, would act as the developer and is now examining the proposed location. It has not yet said how long the assessment will take. The former furniture store is owned by property developer Stefan Rutter and a partner.

A possible IT:U location near the current Biology Centre in Urfahr has moved into the background. The city of Linz said the more complex rezoning of the largely green area was one reason the proposal was currently receiving less attention. The former Kika building has the advantage of already being designated as building land.

IT:U says it could accept either location and hopes the assessments will be completed quickly.