PAU Building is one of the ITB research center buildings that serves the Tridharma of Higher Education program and is located on the ITB Ganesha Campus. The building is currently unfeasible, both structurally and in terms of its facilities.

Dr. Firmansyah, S.T., M.T., Head of the Sub-Directorate of Planning, Licensing, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Directorate of University Development ITB, stated that ITB will revitalize the PAU Building so that it may functionally support new research and innovation programs that will be launched. "The renovation will take place in two stages per year. Beginning two weeks ago in 2021 and 2022 (July 23),” he said.

He explained that physically, this revitalization is aimed at improving the building's exterior and interior appearance by making changes and or improvements to architectural elements and networks, as well as mechanical/electrical/plumbing devices, while the structural system of the building will be preserved. The partial repair of this building has no substantial impact on the performance of ITB's academic programs.

"The sunken court and tunnel on the east side of the PAU Building, in addition to the PAU Building, also require renovation. The sunken court area is intended for Student Activity Unit (UKM), whilst the tunnel is a facility that connects the Ganesha Campus region with the Sabuga and ITB Sports Facilities, which are located on the Ganesha Campus's north side," he stated.

*Sunken court area design (Photo: Directorate of University Development ITB)

The Ministry of PUPR and ITB are working together to revitalize the PAU Building and renovate the Sunken Court. The Ministry of PUPR is in charge of project funding and construction.

The PAU Building Revitalization and Sunken Court Renovation will take place on the ITB Campus, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung. The total area of the existing building is approximately 8,230.58 m2, which includes the basic area of the existing PAU building, which is 2,798.7 m2, the basic area of the existing sunken court building, which is 3933.7 m2, the basic area of the existing tunnel building, which is 803.18 m2, and the basic area of the UKM room, which is 695 m2.

*Tunnel ITB design (Photo: Directorate of University Development ITB)

Regarding the stages of this renovation, the Directorate of University Development ITB has socialized stakeholders in PAU and Sunken Court from the planning stage, including the sorting and transfer of instruments in coordination with the Directorate of Facilities and Infrastructure ITB. Furthermore, with the help of the Directorate of Student Affairs ITB, UKM have been socialized. In terms of broader socialization, they also collaborate with the Office of the University Secretary, specifically the Communication and Public Relations Bureau.

The Role of PAU Building

The PAU Building is intended for numerous research centers, building management facilities, and public facilities that may be used by each research center to make efficient use of the limited area. This suggests that this structure serves an important function as a site for interuniversity collaboration research.

"The PAU Building space-requirements-plan attempts to meet the core activities of each research center by zoning existing facilities more effectively. Each research center can share multiple shared facilities and more public facilities as a result of this structure,” Firmansyah went on to say.

*The current condition of the PAU Building

However, the planned area requirements for Saraga's sunken court building, tunnel, and UKM space will not change considerably. This is due to the fact that the renovation work is in the form of physical repairs to damaged structures as well as changing the mood of the space so that users are comfortable undertaking activities in the building area.

"Hopefully, all activities from these research centers will be appropriately accommodated, comfortable to use, and user safe. This structure is relatively old, and some of its utility functions no longer fit the criteria for research activities. By upgrading the physical condition of the PAU building, ITB's hope of continuing to succeed in PPM can be restored,” he said.

Reporter: Adi Permana
Translator: Sekar Dianwidi Bisowarno (Bioengineering, 2019)