Research Centre without borders

On 22 March, the official opening of the Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw took place. Symbolic act of cutting the ribbon followed by short speeches opened a new chapter in the research activity of the University.

The celebration was attended by distinguished guests, including the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Professor Barbara Kudrycka, Vice-President of the Kuryłowicz & Asociates studio, Professor Ewa Kuryłowicz, chancellors of befriended universities, professors and experts.

In his speech, the Chancellor of the University of Warsaw, Professor Marcin Pałys made references to the decision of the Warsaw City Council to name one of the stations of the second underground line „Nowy Świat - University”. 'How can we repay the city? Maybe, by showing an innovative project of a new underground line called <University>. A line connecting the recent undertakings of our University', said the Chancellor of the University of Warsaw. The guests took a virtual tour from the "Pearl of the University Architecture" stop (the Auditorium edifice), the „Media Concern” (edifices of the Faculty of Journalism and Political Sciences, the „Good Stop" (the new seat of linguistic departments [located at Dobra Street, Polish: dobra - good]), „Students' Town” down to the „Silicon Valley” (the Biological and Chemical Research Centre, the Faculty of Physics, etc.) In his slightly joking vision, the Chancellor delineated how far-reaching the University's plans are.

Professor Pałys emphasized that the Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw was going to be a platform for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, a platform that would connect people from various disciplines of science, rather than divide them and create borders by assigning them to individual faculties.

'We would like this building and the modern equipment to be a stimulus for developing joint research, so that we can co-operate with the economy, associations, NGOs, with all those who are outside the world of academia and are an important group of recipients of our ideas', said the Chancellor.

Professor Barbara Kudrycka emphasized that the creation of a Silicon Bio-Valley on the "Ochota" campus was not a distant dream, but a plan that could be turned into reality - not only thanks to modern research infrastructure, but above all thanks to outstanding scientists who work at the University and are successful, for instance in obtaining grants.

Professor Ewa Bulska, head of the Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw, reminded everyone of the times when creation of a modern building, equipped with devices unique even on European scale, was merely a dream. 'I remember the weeks we spent describing the project, describing our dreams. I remember the happiness when we learnt about the decision on granting funds for creation of the Centre, and then I remember the impatient, joyful waiting - the period of construction. One thing is certain - it is definitely worth having dreams', Professor Bulska mentioned.

Professor Agnieszka Mostowska, dean of the Faculty of Biology, pointed out that sometimes research teams working on the Faculty of Biology and the Faculty of Chemistry do know about each other's existence. 'Opening of the Centre will help to change this situation. Biologists and chemists will do more joint research, will organize seminars, conferences and lectures together', said Professor Mostowska. Professor Paweł Kulesza, dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, underlined that the opening of the Centre was a great success, but also a commitment to continue working and striving at better science and more funds for its development.

The Biological and Chemical Research Centre is not only a place that will enable scientists to carry out innovative ideas, but also a beautiful building which thanks to its functionality will serve researchers and students. The guests were also able to experience it themselves, as after the official part, leaders of individual research groups took them on a tour through the modern laboratories.

Glazed, six-storey edifice has over 10 thousand sqm of usable area and is fully disabled- friendly. There are 133 research laboratories, seminar rooms and a café. Construction works were carried out by Mirbud, and the architectural design was prepared by the Kuryłowicz & Associates studio. 85% of the investment was financed from the European Union's structural funds, and its total cost amounted to 150 million PLN.

Piotr Żabicki from the Kuryłowicz & Asociates studio mentioned that the Centre was not an easy design to prepare, as there were many laboratories, with high technical requirements, the functional program of the building was complicated and the rules foreseen by the act on public procurement were strict. Despite the difficulties, it was a success. 'Architects are happy in two situations. If they have a competent client who knows what he or she wants, and when they get an interesting and ambitious project. We fell that this type of work is crowned at today's celebration. The University can undoubtedly be called a patron of architecture', said the designer and the architect.

Opening of the Centre is a milestone in implementing the program encompassing modernization and expansion of the infrastructure of the faculties of natural sciences on the „Ochota” campus. The Biological and Chemical Research Centre of the University of Warsaw is one of three buildings being constructed on the „Ochota” campus. The remaining two are planned to be opened in the next academic year.