Modern lecture theatres and relaxation areas are now ready to welcome students! UO has completed project costing 8.7 million zlotys

Modern, interactive and comfortable – this is what lecture theatres A and B at 48 Oleska Street, as well as lecture theatres A1/A2 and 045 at Collegium Salutis Humanae, have become following a refurbishment costing over 8.3 million zlotys. Relaxation areas for students, costing nearly 400,000 zł, have been created next to each of them. The opening ceremony for these spaces took place on 28 July 2026 and was attended by, inter alia, the Rector of the UO, Prof. Jacek Lipok, the University Chancellor Joanna Kostuś, and her deputies Cezary Pawęzki and Andrzej Witek.

All the lecture theatres have a combined capacity of 1,076 people – 348 in lecture theatres A and B, 484 in lecture theatres A1/A2 and 244 in lecture theatre 045. What is more, all these lecture theatres can be combined into a single space thanks to the Microsoft Teams Rooms functionality and a system of cameras, microphones and monitors. It will facilitate the organisation of large conferences, university-wide events and lectures held simultaneously in several lecture theatres. Such events can now take place in three formats: in-person, hybrid and online.

‘We can now say that we have facilities of a truly European standard,’ emphasises Cezary Pawęzki, First Deputy Chancellor. ‘These are excellent conditions for studying, learning and working, which also allow us to connect remotely and in a hybrid format, for example with staff from other universities. Thanks to the Microsoft Teams Rooms system, we can virtually invite lecturers from every corner of the globe to join us here.’

All halls are also equipped with interactive whiteboards and large electric screens, interactive monitors supporting hybrid working, an IP-based video transmission system, and HDMI/USB/LAN/230V table-mounted media ports. The lighting, blinds and audiovisual system can be managed from a single control panel, whilst the lecterns – including their height and tilt – are electronically controlled.

The contractors also ensured appropriate acoustics, with a professional ceiling-mounted and front-facing sound system, as well as desk-mounted and wireless microphones. The overall look is modern; the seats are noise-free and comfortable, and the walls are finished with upholstered and felt panels, as well as wooden slats that can be backlit. LED lighting has also been built into the stairs, which, in addition to its aesthetic appeal, ensures safety.

The colour palette of each hall is centred upon black, grey, beige and natural wood tones. Individual halls have been given distinct colour schemes, but when connected – for example via the Microsoft Teams Rooms system – they all form a cohesive whole. The materials used are partly recycled and are characterised by high durability. Screens and information kiosks have also been installed outside the lecture theatres. In addition, there are relaxation areas for students near each of the aforementioned lecture theatres.

‘We began work a year ago, discussing the concept itself and developing the plans, while the refurbishment itself took around four months,’ says Cezary Pawęzki. ‘A whole team of people were involved, thanks to whom we have not only modernised these rooms but also significantly improved their appearance, which had not been refreshed for over a dozen years.’

The refurbishment of the lecture halls, carried out by A+V sp. z o.o., will enhance the capacity to train future medical professionals at the University of Opole. It also addresses the increase in intake quotas for study programmes run by the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, whose students use lecture theatres A and B, A1/A2 and 045. This amounts to a total of five teaching rooms, as lecture theatres A and B can be divided into two identical rooms, as can lecture theatre A1/A2.

The modernisation was carried out thanks to the support of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Efficiency, accessibility and quality of the healthcare system’. The total value of the project was PLN 60,834,380.27, of which PLN 50,022,124.58 came from a state subsidy. Not only has the University of Opole refurbished the aforementioned lecture theatres, but it has also modernised teaching facilities at: the Collegium Medicum, the Collegium Biotechnologicum, the Collegium Salutis Humanae, the Collegium Anatomicum, the Collegium Chemicum and the University Hospital in Opole. We wrote more on this topic in the article: PLN 50 million for future medical staff training

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