Canadian architect and engineer Stantec has won a design competition for reconstruction work on Ukraine’s State Tax University, which was severely damaged during Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Located in Irpin, 20km north west of Kyiv, the university specialises in public finance, law and accounting, and is connected to Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance.
Stantec’s design reimagines the destroyed main building as a central gathering space, with civic and academic areas encouraging collaboration, research and cultural activities.
Described by the company as an “inclusive, adaptive” restoration, it is inspired by Irpin’s reputation as a “City of Parks” close to a forest.
Dathe Wong, Stantec’s design director, said: “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.
“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.”
Wendy Hillis, architectural competition jury chair, said: “The jury unanimously agreed that this submission presented a strong engagement with the city of Irpin and the forest nearby. We liked the openness of the plan and the way the proposed buildings draw people into the site while also offering transparency of common areas.”
Over half of the State Tax University buildings were damaged or destroyed in the war.
The competition received 49 entries from 18 countries and was run by US-nonprofit, the Center for Innovation, with State Tax University, Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance and volunteer construction organisation “Dobrobat”.
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