Archaeological excavations to begin at NUK II site

Once the archaeologists have done their job, expectedly by early 2025, construction will start for NUK II, which will be connected to NUK, renowned architect Jože Plečnik's iconic 1941 building.

But even before that, a public call will be published to select the contractor, as the building permit is already final, meaning it cannot be appealed.

Construction company Riko will now prepare the area for archaeological excavations where these have not yet been conducted. In the 1990s and in 2008, archaeologists found remains of Emona, Ljubljana's Roman predecessor, there.

The excavations will be carried out by the Centre for Preventive Archaeology at the country's Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

The company Geo-Hidro will be simultaneously preparing the area for heat pumps, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation announced on Friday.

Minister Igor Papič welcomed the start of the archaeological works, although they are starting somewhat later than planned.

He said that "Slovenia needs and deserves NUK II. This will not be only a library but a public university area connecting science, innovation and culture."

He said the government is "determined to make NUK II a reality after 40 years", in reference to initial plans in the 1980s to build a new national university library.

Culture Minister Asta Vrečko also stressed the determination to push forward the project that has been stalled for decades.

Vrečko said part of the excavations or finds will be "integrated into the architecture of the new national library".

The initiative for NUK II dates back to the 1980s, when the first design was picked only to be dismissed later.

In 2012, the Ljubljana-based Bevk Perović architecture firm presented the winning solution in an international competition.

NUK II will be a multifunctional centre for all generations, fitted with state-of-the art technology, and a special night reading room that will be open around the clock.