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Sergey Georgievsky, co-founder and Chairman of the Expert Council of the Strategic Development Agency “CENTR,” has been named an honorary member of the Moscow branch of the International Academy of Architecture (IAA). The Academy, established in the late 1980s under the UN’s auspices, implements programs in sustainable architecture and urban planning.

The honorary diploma was presented to Georgievsky by the Vice President of the International Academy of Architecture and President of its Moscow branch, People’s Architect of Russia Andrey Bokov, on April 18 in Moscow, during a faculty club meeting of the Academy. The event united IAA members and partners to discuss future plans, contemporary trends in architecture, and to summarize the international architectural forum “Kazanysh”.

As Andrey Bokov emphasized:

“The Strategic Development Agency ‘CENTR’ is not only a recognized leader in urban consulting. Over the past few years, the agency has conducted a series of landmark international competitions, which have become exemplary in Russian practice. Thanks to CENTR and Sergey Andreevich personally, many young architects and urban planners have received rare opportunities to demonstrate their talent and skills on the most visible and creatively stimulating platforms in Russia, such as Kazan, Grozny, and Sirius. The International Academy of Architecture highly values the quality of CENTR’s competition organization and Sergey Andreevich’s personal contribution to fostering collaboration with our international colleagues, which is why he was invited to join our Academy.”

Yuri Vissarionov, academician and First Vice President of the Moscow branch of the IAA, added:

“Considering Sergey’s successes and the unique role of his urban projects in organizing nationwide and international competitions for the country’s most significant objects, his work has been recognized as highly effective in influencing scientific research within the country’s spatial development strategy.”

At the meeting, Georgievsky presented one of CENTR’s current projects — the International Competition for the Master Plan of the Sirius Federal Territory’s Science and Technology Districts. The project aims to define conceptual scenarios for spatial organization and functional use of two science and technology districts in Sirius. The first district will include specialized and residential buildings and advanced medical facilities; the second will host the next phase of the Sirius University science and technology campus.

“This competition sets a high standard — a pool of institutional partners has been formed, led by the Moscow branch of the International Academy of Architecture. This will allow for proper evaluation and provide additional ideas, proposals, and solutions that may be applied to the Sirius Federal Territory in the future. In a sense, the competition serves as a methodological reference for similar tasks, fulfilling the educational mission of Sirius for the entire architecture, urban planning, and development sector,” Georgievsky noted.

Applications are currently open to architects and urban planners worldwide. The submission period closes on May 30, after which the jury will select three finalists and ultimately a winner who will have the opportunity to participate in the practical implementation of their proposals.

Andrey Bokov commented:

“This competition has every reason to bring us new discoveries. We consider it an opportunity for something very serious, innovative, and joyful.”

The meeting also highlighted CENTR’s educational and research contributions. A key part of the agency’s work is its research and publishing program, through which CENTR initiates and invests in studies aimed at improving the urban environment. Over its 10-year history, the agency has published around 60 works, including: Historical Settlements and Small Towns, Technoparks: History, Typology, Features in Different Countries, 10 Best Housing Practices in Russian Regions: Comfortable Environment, and Moscow RE: Industrial. Typology of Industrial Areas and Best Redevelopment Practices. Additionally, the agency has conducted comprehensive assessments of cities such as Grozny, Yakutsk, Makhachkala, and Astrakhan agglomerations. These studies often form the basis for master plans — documents now pivotal for the spatial and socio-economic development of the country.

Georgievsky emphasized the accessibility of this research:

“Most of our studies are open-access. We have convinced 85% of our clients and partners to publish all books, analytics, and city development studies fully, in the interest of collective growth. They are publicly available on “CENTER” website and through our partners in the Tatlin e-library fund. Copies are also sent to other public libraries and key industry experts. Please make use of them!”

Photo: Strategic Development Agency “CENTER”