Five innovative projects were presented to the business community by KNUBA students as part of the 5th Ukrainian Construction Congress

Students and young scientists of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, with the support of the university's researchers, presented five innovative projects in construction and architecture as part of the VIRA! pilot project during the 5th Ukrainian Construction Congress held in Kyiv.

VIRA! is the first pitching platform developed by entrepreneurs for the advancement of innovative solutions in the construction industry. The platform aims to unite experts and investors with young engineers, architects and designers who strive for change, for real reconstruction projects

We are sharing a brief overview of the projects presented by KNUBA students.

Veteran spaces: Yevheniia Horova, Yevheniia Kostinska, Artem Honcharenko.

A project to create a multifunctional space providing comprehensive (psychological, medical, social, professional) support for veterans. The main challenge is to rebuild not only buildings but also communities. Each veteran space must be multifunctional and community-oriented. The project requires a flexible approach to design and a multidisciplinary approach involving the community.

Concretes for 3D printing using recycled materials from destroyed buildings and structures: Ivan Ivanov, Oles Lastivka

A project to introduce a promising 3D printing technology using the remains of buildings destroyed by the war and agricultural waste. The goal is to ensure fast, high-quality and cost-effective reconstruction and to solve the problem of construction waste disposal, up to 90% of which is rubble. The technology also makes it possible to create complex architectural forms for spaces that promote recovery – for example, veteran spaces.

Mushroom technologies and circularity in reconstruction: Kateryna Krolenko, Sofiia Halat, Anastasiia Melnyk

A project applying mushroom technologies and circularity in the reconstruction of Ukraine. In line with the build back better principle, new ecological materials are being tested, in particular insulation based on mushroom mycelium – not only in laboratories but also in field conditions. The tasks of the next stages include improving the technical qualities of the mushroom composite and R&D on the insulation in construction laboratories, as well as working with policy makers on certification and the asbestos problem, attracting resources and training in communities.

Administrative Services Center: Yuliia Herya, Danylo Halik

The project of the Administrative Services Center (TsNAP) is the winner of an open architectural competition among KNUBA students for the best conceptual project on the reuse of an energy-efficient building for providing administrative services with improved environmental characteristics, “Green Reconstruction in Action.” The master plan includes the TsNAP building with solar panels on the roof, a shelter, a parking lot and a utility area. The project demonstrates a comprehensive design that combines a modern facade with detailed planning of all zones.

Game-Based Learning for developing managerial competencies in management: Mykhailo Karpov, Artem Vasiuk, Vladyslav Kontsevyi

The project proposes using the educational computer game Smart PM City, in which players build a “smart city” and which is based on project management principles, for the effective training of project managers. A safe environment for mistakes has been created, where participants can experiment with decisions without real risks but with corresponding consequences in the game. The game develops managerial competencies through the task of building a long-term strategy for the city's development and balancing short-term gain against long-term investment. It is a universal solution for integrating different learning topics: management, finance, marketing, ecology, and so on.

The VIRA! lifting platform, launched by the organizers of the Ukrbudcongress, became a unique space where young people shared their ideas for the future reconstruction of Ukraine with an expert audience – construction business owners and leading specialists in the industry. The opportunity to receive professional feedback and recommendations for better implementing ideas and developments became a real pitch of solutions for Ukraine’s future reconstruction and helped participants understand how exactly they can influence the future of the industry.

“University education cannot be separated from the market and from the situation in the country. We can develop and deliver quality results only in close cooperation with stakeholders at various levels. Today we are presenting five projects, and we hope there will be more of them next year. We are proud that the projects presented have grown out of a student initiative or emerged in response to requests from our stakeholders in the public sector and business. Business definitely sees its direction of development, and the advice of practitioners will be very useful for us, for students and for young scientists,” said Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Development at KNUBA.

The founder and moderator of the platform, CEO of Well-Being Contech Mark Kestelboim, noted:

“Today, Ukraine has a real opportunity to set an incredible precedent: to become a laboratory of innovation, a startup platform on the scale of an entire country, where modern standards and inclusion are combined with sustainable technologies for the sake of the future. VIRA! is the first event that will be a bridge between young innovators and business that is seeking change. I hope the platform will become a regular event, and that its results will go beyond the venue and bring real benefit to the country.”

The experts in the professional dialogue with students were Anna Iskierdo, creative director and co-founder of AIMM (a KNUBA graduate); Yaroslav Korniiachenko, founder and CEO of Vlasne misto; Mykhailo Tarasiuk of Big Waves development; Serhii Odarych, founder of ODA Development; and Vitalii Borul, CEO of Credo Development.

The topics on which the VIRA! project will continue to focus are urbanism and territorial development, digital technologies in construction management, architecture and new housing typologies, sustainability and green technologies, innovative materials and structures, community solutions and social services.