How about a climb? The Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb hosts a unique race every year. It is the National Firefighter Stair Climbing Competition.
The Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb stands tall. Locals often call it NET or the SOTE tower. It rises 88 meters above Nagyvárad tér. It was once Hungary’s tallest office building. It was the third-highest building overall.
Let’s dive into its history. In the late 1960s, Ernő Heim proposed building high-rises. These towers would mark key locations. The Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb embodies this concept. It resembles the tower in Debrecen. It shares similarities with the Szolnok tower.
The Semmelweis Medical University needed more space. Their original 1880s building was too small. It could not keep up with modern medical education.
A design competition was launched in 1963. Ernő Südi, László Wagner, and Gedeon Gerlóczy won. László Wagner’s plans were used for the building. Construction began on April 30, 1971. A ceremonial foundation stone was laid. The 22-story building was for the university. It took seven years to complete. It was finished in February 1978.
The university started using the building during construction. The official opening took place in 1976. At that time, it was the tallest non-public building in Hungary. Only the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica were taller. The Mol Campus took the top spot in December 2022. Now, the Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb is the fourth tallest.
At its base, a two-story “base building” spreads out. Inside, you would find the main hall. There is a large lecture hall that seats 570. Also two 310-seat lecture halls. These are known as the “green” and “brown” lecture halls. Smaller seminar rooms and offices are also located here. The Student Government has its headquarters in one of these offices.
The Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb has a special feature. It is a 970 square meter hall. A seven-meter high, twenty-one-meter wide stained glass window adorns it. Gyula Hincz designed it. The elevators were replaced in 2003.
Since 2000, the National Disaster Management Sports Association holds a competition here. Firefighters race up the stairs. They wear full gear weighing about 30 kilograms. They must reach the top floor as fast as possible. The record is 2 minutes and 23 seconds since 2003. The Nagyvárad téri Elméleti Tömb is not just a building. It is a place of learning and athletic challenge.