In March 2022, Irpin suffered significant destruction due to hostilities and temporary occupation. More than half of the buildings of the State Tax University (STU) were damaged, and the main administrative building was completely destroyed. Despite this, the university managed to quickly resume the educational process through temporary repairs, but the need for full-scale reconstruction remained urgent.
In November 2024, STU, together with American partners from California’s architectural community, announced an open international competition for the design of a new main building. It was the first such competition in Ukraine conducted independently by a university.
“We want to create not just a new building, but a modern campus — a space for learning, research, and student life. The winning project by Stantec fully matches our vision. It is especially heartening that the team includes a Ukrainian architect, Yevhen Chumakov, who was born and studied in Kyiv,” said Acting Rector of STU Dmytro Serebrianskyi.
A total of 497 applicants from 86 countries registered for the competition, with 49 projects ultimately submitted from 18 countries.
The competition jury was chaired by Wendy Hillis, the Campus Architect of the University of California, Berkeley (USA). She personally announced the results, highlighting the innovation and global participation in the contest.
“It was an extraordinary honor to chair the jury of Ukraine’s first international architectural competition held by a university. Stantec’s victory is not just an architectural solution but a symbol of hope for a better future for Ukrainian students,” Hillis commented.
The jury also included both Ukrainian and international experts, among them David Lenox, the University Architect at Stanford University.
Winner
Stantec is an international company headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, working in the fields of architecture, engineering, and design. Its portfolio includes large-scale projects such as airport terminals in Vancouver and Toronto, as well as the expansion of the Panama Canal.
“We approach this mission with great responsibility — to create a space that will inspire and support Ukrainian students. It is an honor for our international team,” said Stantec’s Design Director Dace Wong.
Over the next 3 to 6 months, the State Tax University (STU), together with Stantec, will work on detailing the project. Once the design and construction documentation is developed, preparations for the actual reconstruction will begin. In addition to housing administrative functions, the new building will serve as a space for student initiatives and self-directed learning.
