On 16th June, the final gala of the “Accessibility Leader” competition for facilities best adapted to the needs of all users was held. The award in the 10th edition of the competition in the “residential/hotel facility” category went to the Student Hall of Residence No. 7. UW’s recreation centre – “Wrzos” Holiday Home in Kiry was also nominated for the final of the competition.

In the “Accessibility Leader” architectural and urban planning competition, prizes are awarded to buildings and public spaces that are best adapted to the needs of all users, including people with disabilities. In the 10th edition of the competition, Student Hall of Residence No. 7 won in the “residential/hotel facility” category. UW’s recreation centre – “Wrzos” Holiday Home in Kościelisko was also shortlisted as a finalist.

The award ceremony took place on 16th June at the Presidential Palace. On behalf of the University of Warsaw, the award for Student Hall of Residence No. 7 was received from the President of the Republic of Poland by Prof. Maciej Raś, the UW Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Education, and Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor.

“This is a great honour, distinction and commitment for us to continue to work for accessibility. Accessibility at the University of Warsaw is one of the priorities of the development strategy, but it is also a priority present in our everyday activities. I would like to thank everyone at the UW who cares about accessibility and equality, solidarity towards those who do not always enjoy the same accessibility in society” Prof. Maciej Raś said.

Award-winning Student Hall of Residence No. 7

Opened in September 2024, the new UW student hall of residence is located in Warsaw’s Służew district at Sulimy 4. The modern facility can be used primarily by UW students and doctoral candidates. The building is fully adapted to the needs of people with motor, hearing and visual disabilities. Accessibility solutions concern the residential rooms, vertical and horizontal communication inside the building, common spaces and the surroundings of the edifice.

A total of 382 beds are available in the building. Several rooms are adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. These rooms have specially adjusted bathrooms and equipment. Inclusive communal spaces have been located on each floor around an atrium which is the central location in the building – each floor has a communal kitchen and a toilet with solutions adapted to people with disabilities.

The accessibility of the facility is also ensured by features such as barrier-free entrances, automatically opening doors, emergency call buttons, contrasting signage on transparent surfaces and stairs, lowered countertops with wheelchair access, tactile signage, voice tags and dedicated parking spaces. Moving around the building is facilitated by lifts.

The architectural design of the building was carried out by the Projekt Praga studio. The construction work was carried out by Mota-Engil Central Europe. ZBM SA was the substitute investor.

“Wrzos” as one of the finalists

The list of finalists in the “mixed facility/hotel” category also included the UW’s recreation centre – “Wrzos” Holiday Home in Kościelisko, located 8 km from Zakopane. After reconstruction, the building was reopened and made available to guests in May 2024. The four-storey building has 13 hotel rooms with bathrooms, including 2 rooms fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.

Functional features in the building include manoeuvring spaces for wheelchair users, contrasting signage, barrier-free entrances and push-button call system. There is an outdoor gym adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and a tactile map of mountain trails in the Kościeliska Valley and Chochołowska Valley. The design of the building was made by the design and construction company “ŁAŚ” s.c.