Reykjanesbær offers Tækniskólinn a new home

Reykjanesbær has offered to host technical college Tækniskólinn, mbl.is reported on Wednesday. The town council has been in discussions with parties interested in bringing the school to the municipality.

The offer was presented by Ingvar Eyfjörð, managing director of developer Aðaltorg, at Reykjanesbær’s business and construction conference. Mayor Vilhjálmur Árnason said the municipality had enough space for student housing.

“We have sufficient land here and parties with development agreements with the municipality on planned land who could receive Tækniskólinn immediately,” Árnason said, referring to Aðaltorg.

He said Reykjanesbær offered the right environment because of its growing industrial base, including aviation-related and port-related operations and data centres on the Reykjanes peninsula.

“All of this is connected to electricians, mechanics, carpenters and all these fields. Data centres need specialised, technically educated staff,” Árnason said. He also pointed to the large car-rental industry in the area, saying that 40% of all rental cars were located there and required vehicle painting, bodywork, repairs and servicing.

Árnason said the municipality was ready to cooperate with parties on providing land for the school. He added that parties in contact with Reykjanesbær had already had some communication with Tækniskólinn.

Tækniskólinn had previously been expected to move into new premises at Flensborg Harbour in Hafnarfjörður, but those plans were recently abandoned after extensive preparations.

Árnason also said that companies such as Icelandair were moving hundreds of employees to the area every day, and reiterated that Reykjanesbær had ample space for student housing.