Work is underway to restore the historic building on Słowackiego Street in Poznań to its former glory. Its brick façade is being thoroughly cleaned and restored. It is a former school complex building from the turn of the 20th century.
Once the work is complete, the building will become the headquarters of the Shared Services Centre for Educational Units in Jeżyce. This is one of the most beautiful parts of Poznań, characterised by stately villas and ornate townhouses.
Residents walking along Słowackiego Street have certainly already noticed the effects of the renovation of the southern elevation, as the scaffolding there has been removed. The bricks have been cleaned and any cavities filled in. The contractor is now carrying out similar work on the north elevation, i.e. from the courtyard. The other two smaller gable walls are also being changed. There is also a lot going on inside,” says Tomasz Płóciniczak, vice-president of the company Poznanskie Inwestycje Miejskie.
The work inside is connected with changing the function of the building. The rooms there will be adapted to the Centre’s needs. The former classrooms will be divided into smaller offices. The historic doors inside will be preserved. During the work, non-original layers of paint are being removed so that the doors can regain their original colour.
The basement of the building will be drained and insulated with a layer of foundation insulation. Most of the so-called “breathable plaster” has already been laid, which has been adapted to the specific characteristics of the historic building. All work is being carried out in consultation with a conservationist. The company Poznanskie Inwestycje Miejskie recalled that the renovation of the floors from the first to the top had already been carried out in previous years.
What does the Shared Services Centre for Educational Units do? It is a relatively young institution established by the City Council in 2020. The Centre provides administrative, financial and organisational services to educational institutions whose governing body is the City of Poznań.
The school complex at Słowackiego Street in Poznań consists of several buildings, which were designed by Heinrich Grüder at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The oldest building was constructed in 1895, the other parts were put into use until 1914, when the gymnasium was built. Parts of the complex are reminiscent of the Gothic style, while others are Baroque. Among the architectural details one can find elements referring to classical architecture or simplified Art Nouveau. The complex was entered in the register of monuments in 1984.
source of photographs: Poznan Municipal Investments
Read also: Poznań | Facade | Monument | Brick | Metamorphosis | Featured | whiteMAD on Instagram
