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Visit our REUkraine Resources Page for further details and links to interviews and videos related to this project.
As a non-profit dedicated to promoting innovation in the Design and Construction industries, the Center for Innovation (CFI) is embarking on the biggest new design and construction opportunity of our lifetime. Together with our Ukrainian partner, Dobrobat, CFI has begun to help Ukrainians plan for reconstruction, even as the war continues.
On July 28, 2023, CFI partnered with Dobrobat, a rapid rebuilding response organization in Ukraine, to host a national conversation in Kyiv, Ukraine. Over 400 government ministers, mayors, and concerned citizens gathered to discuss post-war reconstruction with CFI leaders (pictured to the right). The event was free and was recorded and live-streamed. CFI hosted a post-Ukraine trip webinar on August 25th to recap the conference and what we learned.
In January 2024, with the assistance of the US State Department, Office of Global Partnerships, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and numerous donors, CFI hosted a delegation of Ukrainian government officials and design and construction experts to the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants in the Study Trip committed to participating in the trip as a “community of practice” signing agreements to continue to work together to begin planning for a sustainable, Ukrainian led reconstruction process, even as the war continues.
While in the San Francisco Bay Area, the delegation met with leading researchers at UC Berkeley, Stanford University and NASA; visited transformational projects like the UCSF Health’s new hospital project; Presidio Trust, Factory O/S, and more. Technical experts and media partners listed below, facilitated an exchange of ideas and expertise that will pave the way for reconstruction success.
Upon their return to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Community of Practice identified key projects for collaboration:
1. International design competition to redesign State Tax University (STU) in Irpin.
Badly damaged at the start of the war, the main campus administration building was destroyed. The University Rector and Ministry of Finance requested a competition that was announced in December 2024. An international jury, including the campus architects of Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and the Ukrainian Minister of Finance, Sergii Marchenko, will choose a winning entry in Spring, 2025. The goal of the competition is to create a 21st century university campus to elevate and encourage students to enter public service. It is anticipated that the winning design will be executed fully, or in collaboration with a Ukrainian design firm.
2. Upskill Ukrainian professionals in “Virtual Design and Construction.”
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) uses multidisciplinary digital models to create a virtual project prior to construction, facilitating better project planning and management, including improved scheduling, budget, and cost estimations. In collaboration with Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facilities Engineering, CFI has organized a class for Ukrainian builders and architects to learn VDC. Set to launch in Spring, 2025, 40 Ukrainians will begin an online class (which may shift to an “in person class”) in Ukraine.
3. Build capacity at Dobrobat’s training centers.
Dobrobat has 50,000 volunteers who repair war-damaged homes, schools and hospitals throughout Ukraine. The need for volunteers is large and recent social media campaigns recruiting women to volunteer has resulted in an increase of untrained people who seek to learn basic construction techniques. The center in Kharkiv has limited capacity and there is a desire to build a training center in Kyiv, possibly with a focus on training women and war veterans. These training centers serve as an opportunity to expand skills and to offer job training.
4. Upskill Ukrainian government officials in advanced design and construction techniques.
To prepare for large scale reconstruction, Ukrainian government officials (local, state and government) need to understand the basics of digital design to adapt building codes and permitting. Working with the Ukrainian Ministry’s Office of Digital transformation, CFI has created a one-day course for officials. Originally scheduled for October, 2024, the Ministry requested that the classes be offered in Kyiv in April-May 2025.
Two years ago, Ukraine found itself the victim of a devastating invasion by Russian forces. This act of unanticipated aggression was met with global outrage. Condemnations echoed from the United Nations General Assembly chambers to the halls of power in the United States, with the vast majority of the international community united in their denouncement of Russia's unjustified/unprovoked actions.
As the conflict continues, the resilience and resourcefulness of the Ukrainian forces have been widely acknowledged, leading to their nickname as the "MacGyver army". Their adaptation of digital tools, novel strategies, and sheer ingenuity have astonished the world, highlighting their bravery and creativity amidst the backdrop of war.
President Zelensky's vision includes an immediate response to the pressing needs of war-torn communities. At the same time, he has urged design and construction leaders to consider the longer term, crafting strategies that not only repair the present damage but also lay the groundwork for a thriving peacetime economy.
Together, we can assist Ukraine in rising from the ashes of conflict to build a brighter and more resilient future.
In the wake of devastation, the Center for Innovation and our Ukrainian partner, Dobrobat are igniting a movement that embraces technology and new materials and explores sustainable solutions to rebuild this resilient nation. Dobrorat is a Ukrainian-based volunteer construction battalion that assists survivors in the de-occupied territories in the restoration of housing and social infrastructure. They work closely with Ukrainian mayors in many damaged regions of the country. Together, we are harnessing new and proven means and methods to tap into the boundless creativity of the building and design industry.
Today, many Ukrainians don’t have a floor upon which to put their feet:
• Over 1.5 million homes have been damaged or destroyed during the war
• Over 3,800 schools in Ukraine have been damaged or completely destroyed
• Over 1,700 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed
UNESCO has verified damage to over 250 sites, including museums, historic buildings, places of worship, monuments, and libraries. Ukrainians face an immense post-war rebuilding challenge.
In Fall 2023, the American Secretary of State , Antony Blinken (left) met with Dobrobat CEO, Dmytro Ivanov (center) to discuss emergency reconstruction and plans for rebuilding Ukraine. Dmytro attended the San Francisco Study trip with Dobrobat founder, Rostyslav Smirnov and volunteer leader, Andrii Lakshtanov. CFI continues to work closely with the US State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships and the Ukrainian Consulate.
The scope of destruction calls for immediate action, even before peace is fully secured. The Ukrainian
people are determined to reconstruct their nation with ingenuity and seek guidance and expertise as they consider options and plan for a more resilient future.
The Ukrainian reconstruction effort will be the biggest opportunity for building innovation since World War II. This initiative is an exceptional moment for global collaboration; lessons learned will shape the future of building worldwide as other countries face military conflict and climate change.
CFI is proud to stand alongside Ukraine as it builds, quite literally, the foundations of resilience and renewal. We are united in a mission to rebuild sustainably – using the best technological and process techniques.
CFI will focus on sharing ideas including:
Sustainability
Technology
EFFICIENCY
Dobrobat and CFI are NGO’s-we aren’t selling anything; our role is to provide ideas and hope. We do not endorse products or vendors.
Mr. Boldov leads the digital transformation efforts at Irpin University which was severely damaged at the beginning of the war. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees to prospective students. There are four accredited departments at the university which are public finance, financial markets, customs, and economic policy.
Mr. Demenkov serves as a chief advisor for reconstruction to the City Council of Kharkiv. This city, close to the Russian border, has been severely damaged during the war. In May 2023, it was estimated that more than 6,500 houses were damaged, and 500 multi-story residential buildings were so badly damaged that they could not be restored. About 80 hospitals and clinics were damaged, in addition to cultural institutions, museums, universities, subways, buses, cars, and garages. Some were targeted hits, others collateral damage.
Volodymyr Kreidenko has been a member of Ukrainian parliament since 2019. He is a Deputy of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transportation, and Infrastructure. Kreidenko is also project ambassador for Ukrainian NGO, Dobrobat.
Anna Kyrii is an architect, public activist, and deputy head of the Architectural Chamber of Ukraine. In 2008, Kyrii founded Architectural Project Group, an architecture firm that seeks to rebuild Ukraine.
Andrii is a construction professional with 15 years of experience in the industry, currently serving as the Marketing Director at Hilti. In 2022 he began volunteering for Dobrobat, the Ukrainian NGO that focuses on the reconstruction of damaged buildings in the de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Currently, Andrii volunteers for Dobrobat focusing on coordinating international support for the rebuilding effort.
Having hosted US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Fall, 2023, on a tour of active reconstruction sites in Ukraine, Mr. Ivanov leads day to day operations for Dobrobat. The project's priority is "fast recovery," or rapid restoration: re-roofing damaged roofs, repairing broken windows, and rebuilding damaged walls. Volunteer centers are located in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts.
Mayor Markushyn became the face of opposition to the Russian invasion early in the war when he ordered the destruction of the central bridge linking the city of Irpin to Kyiv, a mere 13 miles apart. The decision to blow up this bridge prevented the Russian Army from reaching the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. In retaliation, the Russian army destroyed much of Irpin. Today, Mayor Markushyn is actively rebuilding housing and schools in Irpin. With unwavering determination, he has actively defended the city of Irpin since the onset of the Russian-Ukraine war, garnering well-deserved recognition and accolades for his steadfast efforts in safeguarding the community.
Daryna oversees projects focused on damage and risk assessment, emergency restoration, and stabilization work in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv under the Heritage Emergency Fund support and within the Project “Support for Ukraine in Culture and Education through UNESCO: Emergency Response for World Heritage” and cultural property: damage assessment and protection’, funded through UNESCO.
Daryna's dedication and contributions to culture and arts were recognized in 2018 when she received an honorary award from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.
As the President of Irpin University, a university focused on Public Finance and associated programs, Mr. Serebrianskyi oversees the education of thousands of students annually. The university was destroyed by Russians while in retreat following the Russian failure to capture Kyiv in the early days of the war. He has held teaching positions at several other Ukrainian universities and served as the Director of the Tax Monitoring Department of the State Tax Service of Ukraine. He also currently serves as an advisor the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance.
Rostyslav Smirnov is a prominent public figure and dedicated civic activist in Ukraine. He co-founded Dobrobat, a non-profit organization created to recover the country and help the Ukrainians with the urgent recovery of the houses and social infrastructure on de-occupied territories. He studied Public Administration at the Kyiv National Academy of Internal Affairs at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Center for Innovation is a 501C-3 non-profit organization.
Tax ID: 85-4176487
