The success of a building is determined not only by a good architectural design, but also by its execution, in which the level of workmanship and choice of finishing materials are crucial. There are few competitions that focus on this second, material face of architecture. To this narrow category belongs the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy competition , the 14th edition of which is just coming to an end. At a gala in Paris in April, we will get to know the realizations whose craftsmanship deserved the highest form of recognition! Architecture&Business is the event's patron.
The idea of rewarding exemplary workmanship is not new at Saint-Gobain. The first edition of this significant event took place back in 1998, when Saint-Gobain judged 20 of the best from 15 countries in two categories - gypsum board and plasterboard. Since then, exceptional projects using drywall systems have been selected every two years at a gala in Paris.
Participating contractors make extraordinary achievements, combining their experience with top-notch materials to create innovative and efficient solutions. Some work on existing historic structures, while others create completely new facilities. Some projects require the cooperation of thousands of people, while others are carried out by a single person. The creators show unlimited creativity and can be proud of their work.
Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025
The development, uninterrupted for more than twenty years, has led to the development of a formula in which the final competition is divided into six categories, allowing a fair evaluation of objects with different functions and purposes. This year, realizations are submitted in the following categories: Culture, Education and Recreation, Facades, Residential, Innovation, Business and Institutions, and Ceilings.
Each work is evaluated through the prism of four key criteria: Craftsmanship, application of Saint-Gobain brand solutions, sustainability and quality of presentation.
The road to victory is not easy, as the competition is planned as a two-stage process - first, the objects are compared at the national level by the local Saint-Gobain leader, who selects the best realizations created in the country. These represent the national craftsmanship at the international finals in Paris, where the Saint-Gobain International Gypsum Award team selects the winners in each category. This year, the gala in Paris will once again feature a Polish accent, as as many as four projects have qualified for the finals!
The final four in Paris
Urania Hall in Olsztyn © Saint-Gobain | Rigips 
The first of these is the URANIA Sports and Entertainment Hall in Olsztyn, which was restored to its splendor by a renovation carried out by PAINTER Usługi Remontowo-Budowlane from Jonkow. The modernistic building was renovated using innovative techniques, which is why it qualified for the finals in the innovation category!
Urania Hall is a building distinguished by its characteristic dome, which was built in 1978. Since its inception, the facility has served as a sports and entertainment hall, making a significant contribution to the development of the sports sphere in the Warmian-Masurian province. The distinctive shape of the dome has become a permanent part of the Olsztyn city skyline. Over time, the building required modernization work, which began in 2021, involving a comprehensive upgrade of the entire facility. The main building-at the heart of the arena covered by a unique dome-housed a multi-purpose field, to which four new auditoriums were added. Thanks to this procedure, the number of seats has been significantly increased from 2,500 to more than 4,000, and some of the auditorium seats have been adapted for people with disabilities. In addition, an outdoor ice rink and underground parking were also added to the sports complex. At present, other halls are located in Urania Hall, including rooms dedicated to judo classes, weightlifting or a training-warm-up room that can accommodate about 500 spectators. The facility is equipped with sanitary facilities, but also has a conference room, which is a comprehensive addition to Urania Hall's offer. The revitalized hall building has once again become a unique gem of the city of Olsztyn, and the famous dome has been illuminated which commemorates and highlights the building's distinctive feature.
Mercure Szczyrk Resort in Szczyrk © Saint-Gobain | Rigips 
The second highly spectacular project on the final list for the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 competition was theMercure Szczyrk Resort hotel in Szczyrk. The revitalization and expansion of the 1970s modernist hotel, carried out by BPBP S.A.- BIELSKIE PRZEDSIĘBIORSTWO BUDOWNICTWA PRZEMYSŁOWEGO, made it to the finals in the Culture, Education, Entertainment category.
The hotel, named the Eagle's Nest, was opened in September 1977 and was a resort of the Katowice Steelworks. Located at 660 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Klimczok. After expansion, it has 554 accommodations (447 rooms), 5 food and beverage outlets, 14 conference rooms, a helipad, an aqua park and a SPA&Wellnes area. The main building, 330 meters in length, is double-roofed, has 9 floors and a swimming pool with an opening roof dome. The resort can be accessed directly by cable car. Winter attractions such as a mini ski slope with an obstacle course, a conveyor belt lift for children and beginners are also planned for the future.
Lakeside office buildings in Warsaw
© Saint-Gobain | Rigips
The next buildings to represent Poland at the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy 2025 final gala in Paris are theLakeside office buildings in Warsaw, for which URB Paweł Więckowski Sp. z o.o. of Warsaw is responsible. The buildings qualified for the finals in the Business and Institutions category.
Lakeside is an office and service building with an underground garage, which stood on a plot of land located on the edge of Mokotow adjacent to the Sluzewska Dolinka park, which is a recreational area next to the Sluzewicki Stream. In designing the green area, the emphasis was on creating a modern, friendly space, linking the new building with nearby green areas. This space is also intended to provide an attractive interior between parts of the building. The landscaping design involves a contrast between the level of the site and the body of the building. The building has a geometric form. The green area, on the other hand, is designed landscaped, with gentle forms, winding paths and walkways.
- Kacper Kępinski wrote about the Lakeside office buildings
Museum of Polish History in Warsaw © Saint-Gobain | Rigips 
The latest Polish project to compete in the finals of the Saint-Gobain GYPSUM TROPHY competition in Paris is the Polish History Museum in Warsaw, specifically its ceilings and drywall, completed by Firma Marek Kośka of Warsaw.
The Polish History Museum is one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Europe. The building has an area of more than 44,000 sqm, which includes 4 above-ground floors and 2 underground floors. The unique development was finally built in 2023 and was designed by Warsaw-based design studio WXCA. The building itself is as much as 180 meters long and 48 meters wide. The museum has more than 7,000 sqm of permanent exhibition and 1,400 sqm of temporary exhibitions and is able to accommodate an auditorium of 577 people. The facility also includes a cinema hall designed for 135 people. As if the icing on the cake, the building's rooftop features a public terrace overlooking the city skyline. The edifice is distinguished by an interesting façade composed of different colors of stones, which refer to layers of history-from ancient to modern times. Each exterior wall of the building also refers to symbols of Polish architecture. The museum is intended to showcase Poland's multifaceted history, but it also offers auditorium spaces, workshops, food and beverage outlets and numerous conservation studios.
Architecture and Business at the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy gala in Paris!
The results of the competition for the Saint-Gobain Gypsum Trophy will be announced at a final gala to be held in Paris this April. The patron of this international event is Architecture&Business!
