On 15th September, the Presidential Palace hosted the final gala of the “Accessibility Leader” competition, which recognises buildings best adapted to the needs of all users. In the 11th edition of the competition, the UW’s Faculty of Psychology building received the award in the “Large public building” category.

The “Accessibility Leader” architectural and urban planning competition recognises buildings and public spaces that are best adapted to the needs of all users, including people with disabilities.

In the 11th edition of the competition, the UW’s Faculty of Psychology building won in the “Large public building” category.

The awards ceremony took place on 15th September at the Presidential Palace. Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, accepted the award on behalf of the University. Dr Anna Modzelewska, the University’s spokesperson, also attended the ceremony.

“Thank you very much for this honour. I accept it with great satisfaction on behalf of the entire University of Warsaw community. Accessibility cannot merely be an afterthought in architecture, a solution that arises by chance. It must be an integral part of the design process from the very beginning. The UW’s Faculty of Psychology is a very good example of this approach,” says Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor.

The UW’s Faculty of Psychology building, situated on Banacha Street, has six above-ground storeys and two underground levels, with a total floor area of almost 26,600 m². The building houses a lecture theatre seating over 380 people, seminar rooms, lecture theatres and computer rooms, group study rooms and research laboratories. There is a roof garden, and an observation deck is also available.

The official opening of the University of Warsaw building on the Ochota campus took place on 23rd September 2025. It is used by around 2,000 people – primarily students, doctoral candidates and employees of the UW’s Faculty of Psychology. These modern spaces facilitate the development of teaching and research in fields such as psychology, cognitive science and psychophysiology.

“We wanted to create a modern building that would not only serve research and teaching at the highest level, but would also be a good space for people – open, welcoming and accessible to everyone. The UW is changing significantly. We are building, modernising and renovating our campuses. I regard this award not only as a positive assessment of this work, but also as a commitment. I would like to emphasise that accessibility is already our standard today, and we will consistently raise this standard in the UW’s future projects,” adds the UW Chancellor.

A building accessible to all

In awarding the main prize in the “Large public building” category, the competition jury recognised the merits of the UW’s Faculty of Psychology building, which serves as an example of a modern and inclusive academic space. The jury’s statement highlighted the combination of high standards of accessibility with high-quality architectural design.

The building is accessible to all users. It incorporates solutions tailored to the needs of people with mobility, visual and hearing impairments. Wide corridors and threshold-free passageways facilitate movement around the building. The building has four lifts with pre-programmed voice announcements. The stairwells are equipped with handrails on both sides and high-contrast strips.

All rooms in the building incorporate architectural accessibility features. The main lecture theatre is equipped with a height-adjustable lectern and an induction loop to assist hearing. Induction loops are also installed in two smaller lecture theatres. A consistent visual identification system facilitates spatial orientation. All rooms are marked with door signs featuring visual information and Braille labelling.

The project forms part of the “University of Warsaw 2016–2027” multiannual programme.

The “Accessibility Leader” competition

The “Accessibility Leader” competition has been organised by the Association of Friends of Integration and the Association of Polish Town Planners since 2016. Since its first edition, it has been held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland.

The winning projects were selected by a jury comprising town planners, architects and specialists in architectural accessibility and universal design, as well as experts nominated by the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland. A total of 29 buildings and spaces were shortlisted for the final. A recording of the gala can be viewed on the website of the Office of the President of the Republic of Poland.