The first stage of the UG Sports Centre project is to be completed within 28 months. On Monday, June 10 this year, an agreement concerning the realisation of this undertaking was signed by the Rector UG, prof. Piotr Stepnowski, and the Director of Budimex S.A. Branch, Mariusz Hurylski, representing the contractor.
‘This is an extremely important day for the University of Gdańsk,’ emphasised the Rector, prof. Piotr Stepnowski. ‘We are the largest university in Pomerania, with practically no sports facilities. We have 22,000 students, huge achievements in academic sports, and ambitions to reach for more.’
The Rector recalled previous attempts to implement investment plans. The construction of the Centre was already planned in the 1980s. The most recent attempts were first halted by a pandemic and then by the withdrawal of the already selected contractor due to an increase in the price of materials in the construction market.
‘We modified the plans and divided the entire investment into phases. We also adjusted the order to our financial possibilities,’ added the Rector.
The first stage will involve the construction of a multi-purpose sports hall with full technical, social, and sanitary facilities. The sports hall building will include: a full-size court for handball, volleyball or futsal with the possibility of dividing it into three smaller basketball courts, stands for nearly 300 people, a weight training room, a cardio room, a fitness room, a martial arts room, a music and exercise room, and wellness facilities. The area around the hall will be landscaped and outdoor car parks will be created. The facility is to be adapted for people with disabilities. Rainwater will be managed and renewable energy sources will also be used.
The contractor selected in the tender is BUDIMEX S.A., which built the recently opened Gdynia Maritime University Sports Centre (May 23 of the current year).
‘We are very pleased that this is another university sports facility that we will be constructing. At the end of May this year, we completed a similar facility in Gdynia for the Maritime University, and a few months earlier we completed a Sports Centre for the Bydgoszcz University of Technology. Our portfolio also includes larger facilities such as the Central Sports Centre in Wałcz and the Sports and Entertainment Hall in Gorzów Wielkopolski. Sports facilities are a permanent feature of our ongoing business activities. We will perform the investment in the design and build formula,’ said Budimex S.A. Branch Director Mariusz Hurylski.
Deputy Director of the Sports Centre, mgr Tomasz Aftański, who was present at the contract signing, did not hide his joy at the event, emphasising how important it is that the ‘house of sport’ is built and will serve the University of Gdańsk academic community.
‘The modest UG sports facilities are used by students, ASA UG athletes, but also by employees. In addition, we run rehabilitation and recreational activities for practically every social group. For many years, with our sporting activities and results, we have been proving that we care a great deal about the development of sport at our University. I hope that the new Centre will meet at least these immediate needs as far as sports facilities are concerned,’ said Tomasz Aftański, who also thanked the Rector's and Chancellor's authorities for successfully leading to the selection of the Centre's contractor.
According to the contract, BUDIMEX S.A. has 28 months to complete the investment. The estimated cost is almost PLN 65 million, of which PLN 39 million will come from the purchase of investment bonds obtained from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the remaining amount is a recently obtained grant from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.
Let us recall that recently - on 29 May this year. - University of Gdańsk was visited by Minister Sławomir Nitras, who inspected the existing sports facilities and familiarised himself with the plans for the construction of the Sports Centre.
