A reference to the surrounding space, optimum room layout, and a frugal means of expression. These features characterise the winning design for the UW’s Physical Education and Sports Centre building to be constructed in Warsaw’s Ochota district. The authors of the project are the Bureau Babyn Michałowski and Biuro Projektów Lewicki Łatak.

“The construction of a Physical Education and Sports Centre for teaching activities and the construction of a student culture centre at the Ochota Campus” is intended to complement the University’s sports and cultural offer. The investment is being implemented as part of the Multiannual Plan “University of Warsaw 2016–2027”.

The new building will provide comfortable conditions for sports and cultural events. It will house, for example, a modern swimming pool with an auditorium and a multi-purpose sports hall, enabling the organisation of competitions at the academic level. There are also plans to build a full-size climbing wall and a room for combat sports.

“We have chosen the solution that is most functional and meets our needs. Our goal is to build a Physical Education and Sports Centre that will serve the entire academic community,” Prof. Ewa Krogulec, the UW Vice-Rector for Development, said during the announcement of the competition results.

The project site is located at Banacha 2a in Warsaw. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2025. The total area of the building is estimated to be around 12,600 m².

Awarded projects

On 20th February, the competition for the development of an architectural concept for the building together with land development took place at the SARP Exhibition Pavilion at Foksal in Warsaw. Seventeen designs were submitted. The jury assessed the following criteria: attractiveness, originality and functionality of the proposed solutions, as well as consideration of ecological and energy-saving aspects.

First place was awarded to a joint project by the architectural studios Bureau Babyn Michałowski and Biuro Projektów Lewicki Łatak. “The Competition Jury appreciated the articulated in the work relationship of the new building with the building of the Faculty of Geology, the appropriate distance from it and the creation in this way of a public space being a gateway to the campus from the south. The functional solutions resulting in an optimum layout of the rooms within the space indicated in the competition regulations were appreciated. The design adopted in the project was appreciated for its economical means of expression, being an appropriate language for the creation of a facility with a sports function,” the justification for the competition decision reads.

The second place was awarded to M.O.C. Architekci sp. z o.o. sp. k. The third place was awarded to the concept by architects Bartłomiej Nawrocki and Marcin Jojko. The jury also awarded distinctions to the studios 22ARCHITEKCI sp. z o.o. and Consultor sp. z o.o.

The studio that wins the first place will receive an invitation to negotiations, the aim of which is to develop the competition work in detail.

The competition was organised by the University of Warsaw and the Association of Polish Architects. The competition was announced on 7th December 2023. Competition entries were accepted until 30th January 2024.

A post-competition discussion, during which the results of the competition were discussed in detail, took place on 5th March. Competition materials and detailed information on the adjudication can be found on the SARP website: https://1050.konkurs.sarp.pl/.

The studio, which won the first place, will receive an invitation to negotiations aimed at a detailed elaboration of the competition work.