Opening of the upgraded Laboratory for Structures and the seminar
On December 17th 2015 the upgraded premises of ZAG's Laboratory for Structures were ceremonially opened. Introductory speeches were given by both Slovenia's Minister for Education, Science, and Sport, Dr Maja Makovec Brenčič, and ZAG's Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr Andraž Legat, following which an additional welcome speech was given by the President of RILEM (the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures) Mr Johan Vyncke, of BBRI, the Belgian Building Research Institute.
The reconstruction and renewal works, which cost a total of 2.15 million EUR, were partly financed by European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Programme "Strengthening Regional Development Potentials" for the period 2007-2013. In this way ZAG has obtained 848 square metres of new laboratory and office space. The most important new item of research equipment is a massive reaction wall which can be used to test structural elements and assemblages up to 6m high, with a total horizontal point load of up to 1000kN, particularly in order to investigate their seismic response.