UCC: Arkasa Lyceum needs 2 more years to complete reconstruction

Reconstruction of the Mykola Arkas Gymnasium has begun in Mykolaiv, March 2025, photo by NikVesti

The reconstruction of the building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum, destroyed by a missile strike, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

This was announced by Oleksii Savchuk, head of the capital construction department of the Mykolaiv City Council, on the March TV channel.

«This is a very large and complex facility. This is true. A large amount of work has been done and more needs to be done. That is why we hope that by the end of 2027 we will be able to get a ready-made full-fledged facility,» said Oleksii Savchuk.

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Stabilisation works are currently underway, he explained. They should be completed by March 2026.

«They should be completed around the first quarter of next year. We faced a lot of complicated work such as strengthening the foundation, which was not foreseen in the project. This was simply impossible to see,» said Oleksii Savchuk.

Arkas Lyceum during the war

The historic building of the Mykola Arkas Gymnasium was destroyed on 1 November 2022 during the bombing of Mykolaiv by Russian troops. As a result of the shelling, part of the wall fell down, the interior of the school classrooms opened up, and the roof over the facade was damaged.

Ukrainian architects presented options for the restoration and renovation of the lyceum to Danish Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. In turn, he assured them that the city authorities would choose the option for reconstruction. After that, Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said that the lyceum would be restored to its original appearance.

Work on the reconstruction of the lyceum began in the winter of 2025. Its reconstruction is funded by the Danish government, and the work is overseen by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). In total, the historic building will be restored in three stages:

• Emergency works: dismantling of the building's emergency structures.
• Stabilisation works: overhaul of the roof and walls; restoration of the facade, but without restoring ornaments and other finishing elements; preparation for the construction of a shelter.
• Resumption of the educational process: renovation of the lyceum premises and arrangement of the shelter. The development of project documentation for interior works is still underway.

The contractor has already dismantled most of the emergency structures under the supervision of UNOPS engineers. The foundation is currently being reinforced, which will allow for the construction of the underground shelter. A significant amount of work has also been done to restore the roof.

Read also the article NikVesti «Not to lose the building». Reconstruction of Arkas Gymnasium begins in Mykolaiv». It was planned to restore the destroyed facade of the building by October 2025.