Kruševac enhances public services and preserves cultural heritage through the EU Integra Programme

The City of Kruševac will implement the project “City Hall – Energy Efficient, Accessible and Open to Visitors”, supported through the European Union programme for integrated territorial development in Serbia – EU INTEGRA, in partnership with the Ministry of European Integration and with financial support from the European Union through IPA III funds.

The EU INTEGRA Programme is implemented by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), with the aim of advancing sustainable urban and integrated territorial development in Serbia through the application of European Union Cohesion Policy principles and the strengthening of local partnerships.

The project includes a comprehensive energy-efficiency renovation of the City Hall building in Kruševac, encompassing roof replacement, façade and window restoration, as well as interior refurbishment works. As the building is protected as a cultural heritage site, all interventions will be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the competent cultural heritage protection authority, ensuring both improved energy performance and the preservation of its historical and cultural identity.

The project is expected to reduce energy consumption costs while creating a higher-quality, more functional and safer working environment for municipal administration staff, as well as improving conditions for citizens using City Hall services.

A key component of the project focuses on enhancing accessibility and digitalising the visitor experience. An information totem featuring content in sign language will be installed for people with hearing and speech impairments, enabling easier navigation and improved access to municipal services.

At the same time, the building’s cultural value will be further showcased through the use of modern digital technologies. The mosaics in the Mosaic Hall will gain a new dimension through VR content, providing visitors with a more interactive and immersive experience of the building’s cultural and historical significance and linking heritage preservation with innovative approaches to cultural interpretation.

The project “City Hall – Energy Efficient, Accessible and Open to Visitors” is one of five integrated projects supported under the first call for proposals of the SCTM component of the EU INTEGRA Programme. It demonstrates how an integrated approach can simultaneously improve energy efficiency, public services, accessibility and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Project partners include the National Museum of Kruševac, the Tourist Organisation of Kruševac and the Rasina District Regional Development Agency.

The total value of the project “City Hall – Energy Efficient, Accessible and Open to Visitors” amounts to EUR 876,220, of which EUR 483,091.79 is provided by the European Union in grant funding through the EU INTEGRA Programme.

By linking sustainable urban development, energy efficiency and improved access to public services, the project contributes to enhancing citizens’ quality of life and to the implementation of European Union Cohesion Policy principles at the local level.

The EU INTEGRA Programme is funded by the European Union with a total value of EUR 15 million. The Programme supports integrated territorial development in Serbia through the strengthening of local partnerships and the implementation of sustainable development initiatives that contribute to improving citizens’ quality of life and the sustainable development of local communities.