Last updated: October 2021
Owing to European Funds, the University of Białystok opened a new modern ecological campus for the faculties of biology, mathematics and computer science. The new campus was designed to incorporate green and blue infrastructure elements, and embody the pro-ecological profile of the investment. Green vegetation covers the university's walls and roofs, which is nearly half of the 30,000 square meters big campus. There is a brook around buildings and small ponds in the university's inner courtyards. The campus uses a sustainable rain drainage system, which is located on the roof, and the rainwater flows to the artificial water tanks and is continuously filtered and redistributed. Finally, there is a publicly accessible centre for ecological education. Large decorative installations on each of the four courtyards enhance the aesthetic experience in the campus and inspire the faculty and students [1,2].
Campus of the University of Bialystok
Katarzyna Dziedzik, retrieved 09/04/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
- Green walls or facades
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Institutional green space
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
1) Modernized teaching infrastructure to enhance recruitment, also among international students - especially in the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics disciplines [3,4];
2) Socio-economic development of the region by improving the quality of human resources, i.e. increasing the skills and qualifications of current and future professionals and entrepreneurs [4];
3) Creating green façades and roofs which are a link to the greenery of the surrounding forests [2];
4) Increased access to the green institutional space;
5) Increased socio-economic impact of the institution in the region;
6) Strengthen the position of the university in the country - through its scientific potential and support of the development of science and technological disciplines - which were recognized as a priority by Program for Development of Eastern Poland (the major funder) [1,4].
Implementation activities
1) Building the campus of the University of Bialystok on 30 hectares, half of which constitute green areas [2];
2) Management of the university green area - 44,000 m² including: on the ground - 34,500 m², on the rooftops - 9.400 m² [5];
3) Constructing buildings and their surroundings on the area of 7 ha - with the total area of all buildings of almost 38,500 m², net area - approx.m²;
4) Building about 840 rooms;
5) Planting over 8,000 bushes and over 200 trees [3];
6) Opening a publicly accessible centre for ecological education, and placing large decorative installations on each of the four courtyards [2].
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Universtiy of Białystok applied for EU and local funds (programming period 2007-2013) for the construction of its new campus [1]. The contractor was Mostostal construction company from Warsaw [3].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was implemented under the EU ERDF: Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment and Operational Program for Development of Eastern Poland.(1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(National EU programs: Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment and Operational Program for Development of Eastern Poland.(1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Source link, 'Campus' ('Kampus'), Source link (Accessed: 10 August 2017). (Website not available in 2020)
2. Source link (2015), 'The campus of the University of Bialystok combines modernity with nature' ('Kampus Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku łączy nowoczesność z naturą'), Source link (Accessed:11 September 2020)
3. Cichocka, M., 'University of Bialystok campus already ready. See how it looks' (2014), ('Kampus UwB już gotowy. Zobacz, jak wygląda'), Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
4. Government website on EU funded programs, 'Construction of the Institute of Biology and the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science together with the University Computing Center' ('Budowa Instytutu Biologii oraz Wydziału Matematyki i Informatyki wraz z Uniwersyteckim Centrum Obliczeniowym') Source link (Accessed: 10 August 2017). (Website not available in 2020).
5. Source link, 'Campus for the University of Bialystok' ('Kampus dla Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku'),
Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
6. University of Białystok. (n.d.). About. The university's official webpage. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
2. Source link (2015), 'The campus of the University of Bialystok combines modernity with nature' ('Kampus Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku łączy nowoczesność z naturą'), Source link (Accessed:11 September 2020)
3. Cichocka, M., 'University of Bialystok campus already ready. See how it looks' (2014), ('Kampus UwB już gotowy. Zobacz, jak wygląda'), Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
4. Government website on EU funded programs, 'Construction of the Institute of Biology and the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science together with the University Computing Center' ('Budowa Instytutu Biologii oraz Wydziału Matematyki i Informatyki wraz z Uniwersyteckim Centrum Obliczeniowym') Source link (Accessed: 10 August 2017). (Website not available in 2020).
5. Source link, 'Campus for the University of Bialystok' ('Kampus dla Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku'),
Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
6. University of Białystok. (n.d.). About. The university's official webpage. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 11 September 2020).
Białystok University campus courtyard
Source: https://www.propertydesign.pl/architektura/104/kampus_uniwersytetu_w_bialymstoku_laczy_nowoczesnosc_z_natura,6636-25484.html#img