Linz council advances possible IT:U campus in Urfahr

Linz city council has changed the zoning plan to clear a planning hurdle for a possible campus of the Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria (IT:U) at a former furniture store in Urfahr, ORF reports. The site, on Freistädter Straße, is already sealed and close to public transport.

The IT:U currently operates across several locations, including the science park near Johannes Kepler University, but is seeking a permanent campus. The former kika store has been vacant for about 18 months.

Greens planning spokesman Tomislav Pilipović called the location a “win-win situation,” saying the university deserved a central home. He also said more students in the city centre could benefit shops and restaurants, and urged planners to consider housing near the campus.

A campus site in the green belt near Johannes Kepler University faced opposition from residents’ groups in autumn 2024. A location near the Biology Centre in Urfahr was also discussed, but the more complex rezoning required for the largely green land has counted against it. The former kika property is already zoned for construction.

The Federal Real Estate Company is still assessing the former kika site. The science ministry said in September that an architectural competition could begin next year, with university operations potentially starting in 2031.