The building, which used to be a military command building, was opened by Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.
Sanader said that Croatia was committed to a society of knowledge and that knowledge should be a strong card in integration with globalisation processes.
Rijeka University Chancellor Daniel Rukavina said that investments into the university campus would provide infrastructure and programmes needed for the strong development of the scientific potential and education of a growing number of graduates who will form the basis for the development of western Croatia.
The program of the university campus will be a core that will keep young people in this region, increase scientific and technological potential, attract investments and encourage development based on regional resources, Rukavina said.
Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obersnel said the project to build the university campus, launched during the term of the previous government, was a positive example of how political differences can be overcome through cooperation between local government bodies and the central government.
Science, Education and Sports Minister Dragan Primorac called on Rijeka University to help with its experience in a project to build a university campus in Zagreb.
The building housing the Academy of Applied Arts will also house the Faculty of Philosophy Arts Department and the Centre for Student Counselling. This is the only building in the former barracks that was preserved. The value of reconstruction works on the building covering an area of some 8,300 square metres was 26 million kuna.
Once it is built, the entire university campus in Rijeka will include dormitories for 734 students, restaurants, the Faculty of Philosophy, the High Teachers School, the Faculty of Engineering, the university departments of mathematics, physics and informatics, a cultural centre for students and a garage for 560 cars. Works on those facilities are expected to start in early 2007 and be completed by summer next year. The entire campus is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
Rijeka University and the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports signed a 490 million kuna credit agreement with a Croatian bank syndicate to implement the project.