The State Symphony Orchestra in Białystok has been operating since 1954. After 20 years of artistic activity, it obtained the status of the Białystok Philharmonic and moved to a new seat. In 2005 the idea of building a European Art Center was born. A competition was announced, the aim of which was to combine the art of architecture and garden formation, create a park that merges with the Opera building, and maintain spatial dialogue with the existing architectural and landscape environment. The winning competition was won by the concept of prof. Marek Budzyński.

The new building of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic - European Art Center named after Stanisław Moniuszko was built on the St. Magdalene Hill, on the site of the former amphitheatre. The architect in the project was inspired by buildings of Egypt and the Holy Land, Art Nouveau, art-deco and high-tech. When creating the new form of the complex, technologies were taken into account that would allow the plants and the building to coexist. Together with the elements of the building referring to garden architecture (frames, balustrades and sculptures), as well as elements of small architecture, paths and water reservoirs, it gives the premises a park character, combining tradition with modernity. The architectural forms of the main building are partially covered with earth and partially covered with climbing plants. The building of the Podlasie Opera has been precisely adapted to the existing terrain. In addition, the circular foundations of the amphitheatre, trees and planned commercial development were taken into account.

The concepts of combining culture with nature and tradition with the present day are clearly reflected in the design of the geometric shape of the Opera, built of modern materials (concrete, glass and wood), which was closed at the front with a colonnade, centrally crowned with a spectacular glass tympanum made of laminated toughened glass Pilkington Optilam™ Clear T, 21.5 cm thick. Such glass has been specially selected for the entrance area with intense pedestrian traffic and for glazing overhead, as it protects users from injury, attacks and vandalism. In the event of breakage, an interlayer placed between the glass panes holds the glass fragments in place. Pilkington Optilam™ Clear (non-toughened) was also used in insulating glass in the building's skylights.