Perhaps you are unaware that this building behind me has a secret. It is home to the School of Management and Technology of Felgueiras. Known locally as ESTG, it is more than just a school. ESTG is a bridge between education and the real world.
Let me tell you a story about this unique institution. The School of Management and Technology of Felgueiras emerged in 1999. The region of Vale do Sousa e Baixo Tâmega needed a higher education institution. Also the area had a thriving business community of small and medium industrial plants.
ESTG was born from these needs. This school focuses on connecting higher education with the business world. It always prioritizes student employability. ESTG wants to meet the needs of the region.
The educational model emphasizes solving real-life problems. ESTG partners with many businesses in the Porto area. It supports the region’s Technological Park. Approximately 1,200 students attend ESTG. The school offers seven degrees and many master’s degrees. The educational programs align with regional sustainable development. They also foster collaboration with the surrounding community.
ESTG offers programs beyond Solicitorship. These programs cover management and technology. Areas include Business Sciences, IT Security, and Computer Engineering. There is also Environment and Workplace Health and Safety. ESTG trains professionals for a complex job market. The school is always focused on employability. We are Technology and Management. We are P.PORTO.
The building itself has an interesting past. Known as Casa do Curral, it once belonged to the Felgueiras City Council. Now, it is owned by the Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Casa do Curral was featured in Júlio Dinis’s novel “A Morgadinha dos Canaviais”.
By 1999, the building was in ruins. In 2003, Portuguese architect Filipe Oliveira Dias completely rehabilitated it.
ESTG started small in 1999 with only 13 students. It offered just one degree program. Today, ESTG has grown significantly. Now it has 1,500 students and 21 courses.
In 2015, the Polytechnic of Porto restructured its schools. ESTG, formerly known as Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão de Felgueiras, became simply Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão. This change reflects its broader scope. ESTG is based in Felgueiras. It has national and international reach. Its focus remains on Technology and Management.
ESTG hosts TomorroWlan. It is the largest video game LAN party organized by students. It began in the summer of 2013 as “ESTGF ESPORTS WEEK”. It was initially an online format with six teams. Now, it is a multi-day LAN event at the school. The record is 40 individual sign-ups.
The building dates back to 1868. It has a mixed urban and rural character. The building has been adapted over time. It features various construction styles and materials.
The building has a square layout with three floors. A central courtyard is very important to the spatial organization. The courtyard enhances the building’s perfect square shape. A pyramidal glass roof covers the courtyard. The courtyard creates a sense of transparency between floors.
An interesting design element is the translucent glass floor. It exists between levels 0 and 1. Spatial disarray made it impossible to fully restore the original structure. However, the vertical structure was recoverable after consolidation. A metal structure complements the traditional granite and glass. It brings a modern feel to the building’s interior.
The three existing floors were maintained. Vertical communication circuits like stairs and an elevator connect them. These meet accessibility regulations. The increased area primarily provides functional space. This maximizes investment in this area of the city. It rehabilitates existing heritage without increasing its volume.
So as you stand before the Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, remember its story. It is a story of transformation. It is a story of a commitment to education and regional development. It is a story etched into the very walls of this building.