EHTIC with the Silver Statuette in the “30th Anniversary Facility” competition
Silesian University of Technology received the Silver Statuette in the nationwide competition “30th Anniversary Facility” in the category “Modernization of the Year & Construction of the 21st Century” for the construction of the European HealthTech Innovation Centre (EHTIC) in Zabrze. The award was received by the Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Investment Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Zbigniew Paszenda during the jubilee 30th gala, which took place on the 10th of September at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
This year’s edition of the event organized by the Association for the Protection of National Material Heritage was of a special nature. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the competition, in addition to traditional awards and distinctions, 35 Silver statuettes were also awarded in a special category "30th Anniversary Facility".
This is not just the history of the contest. This is primarily the story of people, companies, local governments, and institutions that have changed Poland over the years – often step by step. Investment after the investment - explains Competition Commissioner Roman Pikuła, President of the Association for the Protection of the National Material Heritage.
One of the Silver statuettes was awarded to the Silesian University of Technology for the construction of the European HealthTech Innovation Centre (EHTIC) in Zabrze. It was received by Vice-Rector Zbigniew Paszenda accompanied by Dr Hab. Eng. Arch. Grzegorz Nawrot, Prof. SUT.
EHTIC is a modern research and development centre operating in Zabrze at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, where interdisciplinary research, service, information, training, and promotion activities in the field of health technologies are carried out.
Equipped with world-class state-of-the-art equipment and software, EHTIC laboratories and workshops are dedicated to deepening knowledge and developing technologies applicable in medicine, rehabilitation, and sport, as well as developing new solutions and products to meet the challenges and needs in these fields.
The construction of EHTIC was appreciated for the first time during the 26th edition of the competition, awarding the first-degree award “Construction of the 21st century” in the category “Education, education and science facilities” for the facilities completed in 2021. As stated at the time in the explanatory memorandum, it was awarded “For the creation of a high-quality multifunctional space of an interdisciplinary character. From the architectural point of view, a clear functional and spatial layout, designed in a compact shape, referring to the modernist roots of architectural design, deserves particular attention. Thanks to the rational solution of the function and the reflection in the external form, it was possible to design an energy-efficient object."
The jury also appreciated the creation of highly specialized laboratories responding to the needs of modern medicine and setting new standards of quality. “In terms of interior design, the facility extends significantly beyond the currently functioning educational institutions. The concept of introducing large-format graphics as phrases taken from the history of European culture introduces the user into an intellectual dialog between the interior and the recipient of the space. The solutions adopted in the interior are an example of bold visual identity that goes far beyond current standards" - stated in the justification.
