DOIIB 2026 Engineering Gala – Construction Industry Day 17 October 2026
DOIIB 2026 Engineering Gala – Construction Industry Day 17 October 2026
On Saturday, 17 October 2026, the Hotel Terminal Event Center in Wrocław was transformed into a major forum for the construction industry of Lower Silesia. Nearly 370 participants, including distinguished engineers and leading representatives of national and local government, academia and the scientific community, attended this year's Engineering Gala, organised by the Lower Silesian Regional Chamber of Civil Engineers (DOIIB) to celebrate Construction Workers' Day.
The event was held under the thought-provoking motto attributed to Isaac Newton: “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”
The significance of the occasion was reflected in the numerous Honorary Patronages granted by the Ministry of Development and Technology, Anna Żabska, Governor of Lower Silesia, Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, the Mayor of Wroclaw, and the Polish Chamber of Engineers (PIIB). Radio Wroclaw served as the event's official media partner.
The ceremony was expertly hosted by a dynamic duo: Jerzy Skoczylas, a well-known satirist, and Maciej Król, Secretary of the DOIIB Regional Council.
Distinguished Guests and Representatives of the Engineering Community
The prestige of this year's celebration attracted an exceptional gathering of guests to Wroclaw. Among those attending in person were representatives of the highest levels of national government, alongside regional and city authorities:
Michał Jaros – Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development and Technology;
Waldemar Witkowski – Senator of the Republic of Poland;
Anna Żabska – Governor of Lower Silesia;
Paweł Gancarz – Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship;
Jacek Sutryk – Mayor of Wroclaw;
Grzegorz Roman – Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw;
Włodzimierz Chlebosz – Head of Wrocław County.
Messages of congratulations and official letters of appreciation were also delivered by Monika Wielichowska, Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, and Robert Wiktorski, Chief Inspector of Building Control.
Among the special guests was Paweł Rańda, an outstanding Polish athlete and silver medallist in rowing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The event also brought together leading figures from the engineering profession, headed by Mariusz Dobrzeniecki, President of the National Council of the Polish Chamber of Engineers.
The presence of representatives from regional chambers of engineers across Poland, including council chairs from the Lublin, West Pomeranian, Lesser Poland, Lubusz and Lodz regions. Teresa Bilińska, representing the Association of Polish Engineers in Great Britain, was invited to attend the event pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement signed on 12 March 2020.
The event demonstrated the strong sense of national unity within the profession.
The Gala also welcomed numerous representatives of other professions of public trust, including professional bodies representing architects, medical doctors, veterinarians, nurses and midwives, and court enforcement officers.
Academic staff from Wroclaw's technical and life sciences universities, specialising in civil, water and environmental engineering, were also in attendance. Further guests included representatives of scientific and technical associations, directors and managers of municipal investment organisations, public housing and municipal property authorities, environmental protection departments, and the gas industry.
Radio Wroclaw: Bringing Engineering to a Wider Audience
One of the most dynamic features of the event was a specially arranged live broadcasting studio operated by Radio Wroclaw, which transmitted its programme directly from the Hotel. The radio microphone provided a platform for expert discussions about the current state of the construction industry and the challenges facing the profession.
Representatives of the engineering and academic communities took part in the broadcasts, including Rafał Zarzycki, Chairman of the DOIIB Regional Council; Mariusz Dobrzeniecki, President of the Polish Chamber of Engineers; and Professor Jan Biliszczuk.
Their insightful discussions helped explain to a wider radio audience the nature of engineering work and the significant social responsibility associated with the profession.
The interviews can be heard here:
“We Build Your World”
A key moment of the official programme was an inspiring address by the host of the Gala, Rafał Zarzycki, Chairman of the DOIIB Regional Council.
In his speech, he highlighted the immense responsibility carried by more than 10,000 civil engineers in Lower Silesia—a responsibility that often remains invisible in everyday life, despite its fundamental importance to public safety and well-being.
“People do not need concrete, steel or building services. They need a home that is warm. A road that allows them to return safely to their loved ones. […] The fact that people do not ask whether a floor slab will withstand the load or whether a bridge is structurally sound represents the greatest trust society can place in a profession.”
Rafał Zarzycki also recalled the extraordinary commitment demonstrated by engineers during the floods of September 2024. At that time, engineers volunteered their expertise and assistance, travelling to flood-damaged homes to support thousands of families across Lower Silesia.
His address served as a powerful reminder that engineering extends far beyond technical calculations, drawings and construction standards. It is fundamentally about protecting people, supporting communities and creating the conditions for a safe and reliable future.
Following the opening address, invited guests took to the stage to offer their congratulations and share their perspectives on the construction market and the supervision of investment projects.
The speakers included Mariusz Dobrzeniecki, President of the National Council of the Polish Chamber of Engineers; Andrzej Pogórski, Regional Labour Inspector in Wroclaw representing the National Labour Inspectorate; Przemysław Warszakowski, Deputy Lower Silesian Voivodeship Inspector of Building Control; Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wroclaw; Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship; Anna Żabska, Governor of Lower Silesia; Waldemar Witkowski, Senator of the Republic of Poland; and Michał Jaros, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development and Technology.
Honouring Excellence in Civil Engineering
The Gala provided an opportunity to present some of the profession's most prestigious medals and distinctions, recognising outstanding contributions to the development of construction and the region. The Honorary Badge For Merits to the Construction Industry was awarded to Daniel Jarząbek and Maciej Kożuch.
Janusz Szczepański, who served as Chairman of the DOIIB Regional Council during its fifth and sixth terms, received the medal Meritorious for Wroclaw – Merito de Wratislavia, presented on behalf of the Mayor of Wroclaw.
The Silver Honorary Badge of the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers was awarded to Małgorzata Lach-Walerych and Zdzisław Kostka.
The Gold Honorary Badge of the Polish Chamber of Civil Engineers was awarded to Renata Musialik and Anna Ewa Stelmach.
These distinctions recognised the dedication, professionalism and achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to the engineering profession and the development of the construction sector.
Engineering Meets Art and Innovation
The Gala also demonstrated that engineering precision can be combined with artistic sensitivity and visionary thinking.
The photography competition Engineering Thought Through Photography offered participants an opportunity to explore the relationship between engineering, creativity and visual expression. Joanna Jakubiak, Deputy Secretary of the DOIIB Regional Council, introduced the background and objectives of the competition.
However, one of the clearest expressions of the profession's future potential was the Constructor Temporis Futuri 2026 – Constructor of the Future competition, coordinated by Anna Sobko, a member of the Presidium of the DOIIB Regional Council.
The competition jury evaluated 19 innovative diploma projects prepared by young engineers and selected the winners. The award recipients and their academic supervisors were invited onto the stage to receive their prizes in recognition of their achievements.
The competition highlighted the importance of supporting emerging engineering talent, encouraging innovation and creating opportunities for the next generation of professionals to contribute to the future development of the built environment.
A Celebration of Music and Professional Unity
The official programme concluded with a spectacular concert entitled Rock Legends, performed by the AQuartet string quartet together with Witold Pełka.
The reception offered participants an opportunity to strengthen professional relationships, exchange experiences and build new connections across the engineering community.
Building a Safer Future Together
This year's Engineering Gala demonstrated that the construction community of Lower Silesia represents far more than technical standards, calculations and construction projects. Filled with emotion, well-deserved recognition and productive discussions, the Gala will undoubtedly remain in the memories of its participants for a long time to come.
The 2026 celebration also reinforced the importance of cooperation between engineers, public authorities, universities, professional organisations and society as a whole.
Building bridges - between people, professions, institutions and generations - is essential to the continued development of engineering and the built environment.
A television report on the event will be available soon on the DOIIB TV website.
