Construction of a shelter designed to accommodate over 400 pupils has been completed at the Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv

The restored façade of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv. Photo: Kirill Vitvitsky, NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, at the Mykola Arkas Lyceum, a contractor has completed the construction of a shelter covering an area of approximately 714 square metres.

This is reported in the NikVesti article «Reconstruction of the Arkas Lyceum in Mykolaiv is scheduled for completion in 2027».

It is noted that, according to the project documentation, it is designed to accommodate 434 pupils, as well as 51 staff members — the school’s teaching and technical staff. The shelter will be equipped with the necessary utilities, ventilation, a heating substation, toilets, classrooms and communal areas.

According to civil engineer Vira Sarra, the project also incorporates elements of accessibility. The shelter will have three emergency exits, small lifts for people with reduced mobility, and ramps. Information signs in Braille, mnemonic diagrams and tactile navigation elements will also be installed within the premises.

The shelter is now ready for finishing works. Specifically, this involves plastering, painting the walls, screeding the floor, and installing the building services — ventilation, heating, electricity, lighting, and the fire alarm system. The structural part of the shelter has already been completed.

Entrance to the shelter at the Mykola Arkas Lyceum. Photo: NikVesti

Engineers explain that due to the building’s specific features, it is only possible to fit out a simple shelter here, rather than a radiation-proof one.

«The building was erected back in the 19th century, and its structure does not allow for the installation of a radiation-proof shelter. To do so, the walls would have to be significantly reinforced on all sides, but the existing foundations would not be able to withstand this. Furthermore, there is a park nearby, which is a cultural heritage site, where such work cannot be carried out either. At the same time, this shelter will have all the necessary safety features: ventilation, fire alarms and other systems,» says engineer Vira Sarra.

Furthermore, she explains that the construction of the shelter required additional structural reinforcement, as there was previously nothing there — just a technical basement with two rooms.

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«During the work, we effectively rebuilt this section from scratch: we dug down to a depth of about three metres, reinforced the foundations and walls, laid a concrete floor and ceiling, and reinforced the openings. We prepared for difficult conditions, but in reality they turned out to be even more challenging,» says Vira Sarra.

The Arkas Lyceum during the war

The historic building of the Mykola Arkas Lyceum was destroyed on 1 November 2022 during the bombing of Mykolaiv by Russian forces. As a result of the shelling, part of the wall at the lyceum collapsed, exposing the interior of the classrooms, and the roof above the façade was damaged.

Ukrainian architects presented options for the reconstruction and restoration of the Lyceum to the Danish Ambassador, Ole Egberg Mikkelsen. In turn, he assured them that the city authorities would choose the reconstruction option themselves. Following this, Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych announced that the Lyceum would be restored whilst preserving its authentic appearance.

Work on rebuilding the school began as early as the winter of 2025. Its reconstruction is being funded by the Danish government, and the work is being supervised by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Read also the article by NikVesti «Not to lose the building. Reconstruction of the Arkas Gymnasium has begun in Mykolaiv». The plan was to restore the building’s damaged façade by October 2025.