The idea of creating the National City for Physics and Mathematics in the science city of Sarov was proposed by the president of the Russian Federation in November 2020. It is understood as a “new type science campus” situated beyond the confines of the Sarov nuclear station, its task being fundamental and applied research in the above-mentioned areas, as well as in the field of information technology. The result that is ultimately expected is “getting world-class results, training top-class scientists, strengthening the human resources of the nuclear weapons complex”.

The PM Mikhail Mishustin signed the decree on the creation of the NCFM on August 30, and the competition for the architectural and urban planning of the campus was held starting in the spring of 2021. The operator of the competition was Citymakers. The contestants were required to propose “an innovative sustainable architectural solution of space for future residents, combining opportunities for effective science and a comfortable life”. It was necessary to think through the layout of the territory, the organization of public spaces and the architecture of the buildings of the center.

The projects were developed by 6 architectural companies that reached the final: Timur Bashkaev, KAMEN Architects, Buromoscow, Kleinewelt Architekten, Studio 44, and DNK. The results were announced September 2, and the winner was the project submitted by DNK ag, developed by Natalia Sidorova, Daniel Lorentz, and Konstantin Khodnev. 

The center will be built on the territory of the Sarov technology park, north of Satis settlement. From the south side, both the settlement, and Sarov, located a little more to the east, are surrounded by the forests of the Mordovsky Natural Reserve – but then again, there is a forest stepping up to the very future center, and even now there is a rectangular strip of forestland on the future campus grounds, which the architects are planning to preserve, surrounding it with campus buildings.