The building of the dormitory No. 4 of the Kyrgyz National University, located at 70, Manas Avenue in Bishkek, has been inspected several times.
On November 7, 2011, the State Agency for Architecture and Construction under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, in conjunction with the Kyrgyz Institute for Seismic Construction Research and Design, conducted an inspection, which determined that the building could not be used until strengthening and repair work done. It was also recommended to monitor possible deformations and damage to the building.
On December 27, 2022 the State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing and Communal Services under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, in conjunction with the State Institute for Seismic Construction and Engineering Design, conducted a second inspection. As a result of this inspection, it was determined that the building falls into category 6.4 in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation “B” of the State Construction Code of the Kyrgyz Republic dated 22.01.2018. This category includes buildings designed after 1957, with load-bearing walls made of brick and prefabricated reinforced concrete cladding. It was concluded that these buildings do not meet the requirements of current building codes.
For this reason, the KNU dormitory No. 4 has been out of operation and conserved since 2012.
Construction of a new 16-story multifunctional complex
Currently, it is planned to demolish the old KNU dormitory building and build a modern 16-story multifunctional complex in its place. The new building will meet modern standards and is aimed at improving additional learning and living conditions for students.
On January 20, 2025 the Rector of the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn addressed an official letter to the mayor of Bishkek, informing him of the decision to demolish the building of the dormitory No. 4 located at 70, Manas Avenue. This decision was made based on the resolution of the University’s Academic Council.
In response to this appeal, the Bishkek Mayor Office established a special commission to conduct an additional study of the technical condition of the building. On February 24, 2025 the commission stated that the technical condition of the building is extremely poor and in a state of emergency. The members of the commission unanimously concluded that this building should no longer be used and should be demolished. The commission included representatives of relevant government agencies and sectors and was chaired by the Vice-Mayor of Bishkek, A.K. Kadyrov.
“It is planned to build a modern 16-story multifunctional complex in place of the dormitory No. 4 of the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn. This complex will be a social building with a total area of more than 16,000 m², including educational classrooms, a library for students and foreign teachers, a day and night library, and a kindergarten,” said the Rector of the university, Professor Dogdurbek Chontoev.
Main features of the complex:
– Consists of:
- classrooms and laboratories;
- dormitories for students, undergraduates and teachers;
- administrative rooms;
- KNU museum;
- a 24/7 library with 200 seats;
- a 600-seat amphitheater and conference hall;
- 60-seat recreation and independent study zones;
- a 60-seat gallery-type greenhouse;
- an observatory for students.
and dormitories for students and foreign teachers will be also built.
According to Baktybek Aitakhunov, Vice-rector for economic affairs of KNU, “the total cost of construction is 1,379,820,000 soms (one billion three hundred seventy-nine million eight hundred twenty thousand soms). Sources of financing – 500,000,000 soms (five hundred million soms) are own funds of the university, 879,820,000 soms (eight hundred seventy-nine million eight hundred twenty thousand soms) are funds of the Development Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic. Construction period is estimated to 1.5–2 years,” he said.
According to the results of an open tender (in which three construction companies participated), “Bai Tash” LLC was determined to carry out construction work on a new 16-story modern complex of Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn.
This project is being implemented as part of the infrastructure renewal program for the 100th anniversary of the Kyrgyz National University. It was developed considering modern construction norms and standards and is aimed at providing comfortable conditions for all users.
