In the year of the city's tricentennial, the UNR will continue to restore its historic buildings, a heritage site for all of Rosario.

Franco Bartolacci, rector of the UNR, announced that this year the restoration of the facades of the Economics and Medical Sciences departments, two very traditional buildings in the city and part of its heritage, will be put out to tender.

It's worth remembering that for four years, the UNR has been promoting a program to enhance its heritage, restoring traditional buildings and spaces in the city where public university programs are currently offered. 

Within this framework, the façade and central courtyard of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, the old Gorban Hall of Economics, the Health Department Library, and the central façade of the Faculty of Exact Sciences, Engineering, and Surveying were completely renovated. The former Palace of Justice, currently the building of the Faculty of Law, is currently being restored to its original state. "The Law Faculty, a massive undertaking that we painstakingly supported with our own budget, will be completed this semester, with an investment of more than 2000 billion pesos. Half of the building will be restored, returning it to its original state. Once finished, we will begin work on the façade and back of the Medical Sciences Faculty, which is severely deteriorated, and on the Economics Faculty, which has also suffered over time."

“We are making an enormous effort to maintain our buildings, and above all, to restore their heritage value and the condition of many of them. Step by step, but relentlessly, we are working to ensure that the entire UNR shines once again, that the University returns the city to its best form, and that our community regains better working and learning conditions every day. This year, the city's tricentennial, it will be the turn of the Medical Sciences and Economics departments, two very traditional buildings whose facades have not been renovated for a long time, and which are severely deteriorated,” the Rector noted.

Bartolacci emphasized that the budget situation directly affects the ability to properly maintain buildings, as well as plan their expansion to keep up with the growth in students and activities at the University. "Even more so at a University like ours, so large, with so many historic buildings so geographically distributed. But we must continue, perhaps at a slower pace than we need, making extreme efforts, but without pause so that this recovery we have embarked on does not come to a halt," he indicated.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences building, located at 3100 Santa Fe Street, began construction in 1911 and was formally inaugurated in 1920. Currently, it offers undergraduate programs in Medicine, Speech Therapy, and Nursing, and continues to be a fundamental pillar in the training of healthcare professionals in the region. 

Since its creation in 1919, the faculty has occupied the building located at 1261 Bulevar Oroño, sharing the premises with the Libertador General San Martín School of Commerce. Over the years, the building has undergone various expansions and renovations to adapt to academic and administrative needs. Between 1998 and 2009, new classrooms were inaugurated, improving the faculty's infrastructure and capacity. More recently, in 2024, the historic Gorbán Hall was renovated, transforming it into a modern space for academic and cultural activities.

"We want the UNR to shine again in every place, and on Rosario's tricentennial, the restoration of these three buildings, which are part of the city's heritage, seems like a great contribution to our community and to Rosario," Bartolacci concluded.

Journalist: Gonzalo J. García / Photography: Camila Casero