ArmInfo. The territory previously selected in Ashtarak for the construction of the Academic City is several times smaller than the required area. The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan stated during a press conference.
She said that at this stage a plot of over 630 hectares has been selected, adjacent to the 17th quarter of Yerevan. However, the minister assured that the Academic City will not be built in Yerevan, but rather on the territory bordering 4 communities - Yerevan, Armavir, Aragatsotn and Kotayk regions. This area is state and public property. Andreasyan also added that there are active discussions on the project with the heads of these regions and the capital's mayor's office.
"When giving the task to the architects working on the general plan of the Academic City, we noted that this is our concept and we want to fit everything into this territory. But if during the work we see that this area does not meet the requirements, then we will additionally use the territory of Armenfilm and Ashtarak," the minister said.
Andreasyan previously reported that up to 16 universities will be located on the territory of Academic City - up to 8 state enlarged universities and up to 8 private or international higher educational institutions. At the moment, the concept defines in detail 4 clusters: technological, artistic, educational and officer. It is planned to create a completely new infrastructure, which will include the development of educational institutions, research centers, industrial experimental centers, a sleeping or residential area, a multifunctional concert hall, a cinema and theater, gyms, agricultural arable land, and the necessary conditions for healthy lifestyle. It is also planned to house a national stadium with a capacity of up to 35 thousand spectators, water pools, and parking lots.