Kyiv, May 28, 2025 — At a press conference in Kyiv, the winner of Ukraine’s first-ever international architectural competition for the reconstruction of the main campus building of the State Tax University (STU) in Irpin was announced. The winning design project was submitted by a global architectural firm, Stantec, headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

497 applicants from 86 countries registered for the competition. As a result, 49 projects from 18 countries were submitted and evaluated by the jury, which selected the winning proposal and two other projects for 2nd and 3rd place.

Why does the university need reconstruction?

In March 2022, the city of Irpin, being one of the “strongholds” of the “battle for Kyiv”, suffered significant infrastructure damages when heavy fighting broke out right in the city. More than half of the university’s infrastructure was damaged, including the complete destruction of its Main Campus building. Despite the challenges, the university managed to continue its educational activities using temporary fixes and building renovations, but a full-scale reconstruction remains an imminent necessity.

About the competition

In November 2024, the State Tax University, in collaboration with American partners representing the architectural community in California, launched an open international architectural competition for the best design of a new main campus.

STU became the first and only university in Ukraine to independently organize such a competition, and plans to rebuild its main campus based on the winning proposal. The budget for this reconstruction will be defined later in close collaboration with the Stantec’s team.

“Rebuilding the university’s main campus is not just about infrastructure for us. Our goal is to create a truly modern campus as an innovative and comfortable space for learning, research, and student life. We are truly pleased that the winning proposal came from the Canadian company Stantec — their approach and vision fully aligned with our aspirations for the university’s future. We look forward to beginning this collaboration soon and bring this ambitious project to life together with our newly acquired Canadian partner”, emphasized Dmytro Serebrianskyi, Acting Rector of the State Tax University.

The jury was chaired by Wendy Hillis, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect at UC Berkeley, USA. She announced the first-place winner, along with the second and third-place projects, and provided insight into the evaluation process.

“It was an incredible honor to chair the jury of Ukraine’s first international architectural competition and to contribute to its organization. The process was truly inspiring, bringing together innovative ideas from around the globe. I’m especially proud to announce the winning firm — Stantec from Canada — whose visionary design will serve as the foundation for the reconstruction of the main building of the State Tax University. I sincerely believe this project will inspire and become a modern, dynamic space for future generations of students in Irpin,” shares Wendy Hillis, Chair of the Jury and Campus Architect at UC Berkeley (USA).

The jury also included leading Ukrainian and international experts, including David Lenox, former Campus Architect at Stanford University among others.

About the winning project

Stantec is a global company headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, providing integrated solutions in urban planning, engineering, architecture, interior and landscape design, environmental services, surveying, project management, and economics. Stantec’s experts deliver infrastructure and building projects around the world, combining innovation with a deep understanding of local context. Among the company’s most renowned international and Canadian projects are the expansion of the Panama Canal, the design of Vancouver International Airport, and one of the terminals at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

“This prestigious opportunity resonated with our Canadian, European, and American design team members. With our hearts and minds, we embraced the call for a bold, forward-looking design vision—one that supports renewal and resilience while fostering hope for current and future generations,” said Dathe Wong, design director for Stantec. “It is a privilege to contribute to a project that will heal, inspire, and imagine a brighter future through the power of education, community, and design.”

Next steps

Over the next 3 to 6 months, the State Tax University will engage in active dialogue with the winning company, Stantec, to discuss all aspects of the administrative building’s design project. The timeline for reconstruction has not yet been determined, as the next step involves developing detailed project and construction documentation. Only after this stage will preparations for the actual rebuilding begin.

In addition to its administrative functions, the rebuilt facility will also serve as a space for student organizations and self-directed learning.

About the State Tax University

The State Tax University (STU), based in Irpin (Kyiv region), is one of Ukraine’s leading higher education institutions and the core university of the State Tax Service of Ukraine. It operates under the Ministry of Finance and provides education in economics, taxation, and finance. It also trains specialists for law enforcement agencies that combat corruption in state institutions.

Today, STU serves approximately 4,500 students. Since December 9, 2022, Dmytro Serebrianskyi has been the Acting Rector. More about the university by the link.

About Stantec

Stantec empowers clients, communities, and professionals to respond to the world’s most pressing challenges — at a time when those challenges are more complex and interconnected than ever. A global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting, Stantec combines expertise, technology, and innovation to help communities address aging infrastructure, demographic shifts, the energy transition, and other challenges.