At the end of 2020, Stalowa Wola completed the construction of a new sports hall at Elementary School No. 3. The project was built on land under the supervision of the Provincial Conservator of Monuments, so the architectural requirements for the designers from the ARP Manecki studio were high.
Public Elementary School No. 3 is one of the largest in Stalowa Wola. Until now, students have used a very small gymnasium without a locker room. Therefore, the construction of a new sports hall was one of the most anticipated investments in the city. Architects from the ARP Manecki studio were responsible for the design of the facility. Although the site for the construction was relatively small, they managed to create a functional building that meets all requirements and fits in with the existing buildings. Inside the hall is a 450-square-meter exercise room with an auditorium, a fitness room, a gym, and locker rooms for students.
The new sports hall fits in with the city's industrial character
photo by Piotr Król © ARP Manecki
distinctive roof
The most important requirement for the architects was to blend the building of the new sports hall into the existing school buildings. The element that connected the building with its surroundings is the shed roof, forming characteristic "teeth."
As architect Mateusz Manecki says of the design decision:
Theurban context and the fitting of the building into the surroundings were the most important for me. That's why I decided on such a roof solution. The idea of a shed roof was very positively reviewed by the Provincial Historic Preservation Officer. A project of this type requires complex construction and additional technical solutions. More materials are also needed to build a shed roof. For this reason, it is rarely used, but it is a huge quality asset for the building. It is thanks to it that the sports hall perfectly blends into the industrial center of the city.
The shed roof is a distinctive element of the building
Photo: Piotr Król © ARP Manecki
The she d roof is not only visually interesting, but also a practical solution - it illuminates the rooms. Light enters through the glazed parts of the roof and evenly illuminates the entire interior, which is particularly important in the case of a sports hall.
The shed roof creates characteristic "teeth"
© ARP Manecki
reference to the city's history
In addition, in the school courtyard, small architecture was created, depicting the view of Stalowa Wola from the times when the city was the heart of the Central Industrial District. The metalwork elements proposed by the architects are a reference to the history and tradition of the city. Inside the building, the designers also placed elements referring to the city's period of splendor, such as the spiral staircase characteristic of the 1930s.
auditorium and exercise room
photo Piotr Król © ARP Manecki
As Lucjusz Nadbereżny, president of Stalowa Wola, sums up:
The architects have achieved a perfect balance in this project, proposing a massing that refers to the most beautiful traditions of the Central Industrial District, and fits into the historical identity of the city, while presenting modern glazing and bold lines. [...] It is worth emphasizing the high internal functionality of the sports and school facility, which will safely and comfortably serve the young residents of Stalowa Wola.
first floor plan of the sports hall
© ARP Manecki
Construction of the new building took almost two years. The cost was more than PLN 9 million. The investment received funding from the Ministry of Sports and Tourism in the amount of PLN 2.5 million. The hall received an occupancy permit at the end of 2020 and can already serve students.
