Construction work will get under way in the near future on a new building infrastructure of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), at the corner of Marathonos and Argyros Drousiotis streets (next to Irini Street), a project which includes the renovation and utilization of the listed mansion of Melpo Pilavaki. The new building complex, designed by a team of architects of CUT’s Property Management Service will cater to the needs of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
Vice Rector for Economic Planning and Development, Professor Panagiotis Theodosiou, told "Entrepreneurial Limassol" that the tender for the renovation of the building and the construction of a two-storey extension is under evaluation by the University, which is expected to be completed by mid-April. The listed Melpo Pilavaki house was expropriated nine years ago, but the procedures for its development did not proceed. As Professor Theodosiou told us, upon assuming his duties as vice-rector he showed interest in the project and with the contribution of his office the impetus was given to complete the documents for the announcement of a competition, that was pending for two years.
A tender was announced for construction projects, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the fact that at the essential time, the site engineers proposed by the bidders did not fully meet the criteria of the documents. He pointed out that a detail, such as an engineer missing a ten-years’ experience by one month, had resulted in the project being suspended. Thus, a new tender was sought, with an estimated cost of approximately €3.9 million (plus VAT), which is currently under evaluation by the University, "but at a higher cost", as the cost construction works has in the meantime risen, as Professor Theodosiou pointed out.
The deadline for implementation of the project is 24 months from the award of the contract. According to architect and Limassol history researcher, Tassos Andreou, the listed mansion was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by the merchant Aristoklis Pilavakis.
