Date added: 2025-10-06
Second "Construction Oscar" for Gdańsk University of Technology – Eco-Innovation Centre Awarded
Referred to within the Polish construction industry as the “Construction Oscar,” the Construction of the Year award has been one of the most prestigious recognitions in the country for over three decades. Each year, dozens of projects compete for this distinction. The jury evaluates both newly constructed and reconstructed or modernized buildings. Among this year’s laureates is Gdańsk University of Technology, which, together with the NDI Group, received a First-Degree Award for the Eco-Innovation Centre building, inaugurated in December 2024.
The commemorative statuette was accepted by Professor Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of Gdańsk Tech, and Mariusz Miler, Chancellor of the University. The award was presented by Marcin Grabowski, Director General at the Ministry of Infrastructure; Professor Maria Kaszyńska, Chair of the Committee on Civil and Water Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences; and Paweł Woźniak, Acting General Director for National Roads and Motorways.
The award is funded by the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians, with the support of the Ministry of Development and Technology.
“The establishment of the Eco-Innovation Centre represents yet another major and significant investment by Gdańsk University of Technology in recent years,” stated Professor Krzysztof Wilde, Rector of Gdańsk Tech. “Our ambition was to create a space where our researchers could conduct innovative studies and develop technologies related to sustainable development, environmental protection, and the mitigation of human impact on the climate. The building itself incorporates numerous eco-friendly technologies and solutions, making its operation environmentally sustainable. We are pleased that this has been recognized by the awarding body.”
State-of-the-Art Laboratories in a “Green” Centre
Flood and drought mitigation, resource and energy recovery, wind energy, the use of waste materials in concrete production, and water pollution remediation – these are among the critical challenges facing the modern world, and simultaneously, they define the core research directions of the Eco-Innovation Centre at Gdańsk University of Technology.
The facility serves not only scientists and researchers but also students. With nearly 13,000 m² of floor space, the building houses 18 research and computer laboratories, 20 lecture and seminar rooms, an auditorium, and comfortable student zones designed for relaxation between classes.
The Centre’s laboratories facilitate research in the following fields:
- Clean Water Technologies – including optimization of technological processes in wastewater treatment plants, phytoremediation, flow and pollutant migration in rivers, canals, and industrial installations; modeling of hydraulic structures; and the removal of next-generation contaminants.
- Sustainable Transport – including intelligent transport systems, dynamic travel modeling, infrastructure diagnostics for rail and road transport, long-life pavements, and environmental studies on transportation-related noise and vibration.
- Circular Economy – including the development of technologies for raw material reuse, such as concrete and asphalt incorporating recycled and organic-based materials; low-carbon concrete and asphalt; and highly efficient energy recovery from waste.
- Climate Change Adaptation – including measuring greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment processes and calculating carbon footprints; nature-based solutions for water protection and urban climate adaptation; and the development of new building materials, including pavements resistant to extreme temperatures and stable soil substrates.
“What makes the Eco-Innovation Centre ‘green’ is not only its research mission,” noted Mariusz Miler, Chancellor of Gdańsk Tech. “The building is equipped with modern photovoltaic panels, a green roof, and heat pumps working in conjunction with conventional energy sources. Greywater recovery systems have been installed, and intelligent control systems manage the building’s infrastructure.”
The official opening of the Eco-Innovation Centre at Gdańsk University of Technology took place on December 3, 2024. The event was attended by Maria Mrówczyńska, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; Piotr Grzelak, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk; Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim, Mayor of Sopot; as well as representatives from the business and academic community.