The State Tax University (STU) in Irpin is one of the country’s leading universities, focusing on economics, finance and law. As Russian tanks rolled towards Kiev at the start of the expanded aggression, a bridge between Irpin and the capital was destroyed; the Russian army then levelled 70% of the town.
Ukraine is now seeking to rebuild the university. Stantec won an international competition for an outline concept for the new STU, and supported the UK tour alongside Build Forward Ukraine.
“Rebuilding STU as a model of transparency and sustainability allows our university to embody the values of our nation: strength, resilience, and democracy,” said Dmytro Serebrianskyi, acting rector of State Tax University. “The buildings and estates we have visited have given us new inspiration to help us realise our designs for the future. We’re delighted that Build Forward Ukraine and Stantec have been able to facilitate such positive, constructive experience for our university.”
Margie O’Driscoll, chief executive officer of Build Forward Ukraine, said “Rebuilding STU will restore a key educational institution teaching public administration, international law, and accounting—essential disciplines needed to reinforce Ukrainian democracy.
“This trip has served as a key milestone in our mission to help Ukraine develop a model for reconstruction rooted in partnership, learning, and resilience. Before you can build, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and this visit helped form that vision.”
The delegation of STU’s leadership, academics, and students visited examples of educational design and architecture, including the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School, Oxford’s Mathematical Institute, LSE’s Marshall Building, and the UCL East Marshgate building, among many others. The visit also offered the opportunity for the delegation to meet with leaders in the UK’s academic and design communities, as well as likely investors and funders for the project.
“It’s a privilege to have been chosen to partner with STU on this unique project, which will be transformative for both the users of the university and the wider community of Irpin,” said Dathe Wong design director for Stantec. “We hope that this visit will inspire similar creative approaches to new academic buildings across the country as Ukraine rebuilds. Ultimately, it’s important that the destroyed buildings are not simply replaced but the whole campus is reimagined to suit the current and future needs of the population. Our hope is for STU to be both a community gathering space as well as a regenerative civic and academic hub.”
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