Vul. Ruska, 20 – former gyms of "Sokil-Batko" society

The design of the building was approved by Lviv magistrate on July, 23, 1905 (DALO 2/2/3806). The design was developed by Tadeusz Obmiński. Oleksandr Lushpynskyi also contributed to the project design. The works were performed by a construction firm of Ivan Levynskyi (construction site supervisor — Filemon Levytskyi). The construction completed in 1906. In the same time, the right lateral wing of the first floor, on the side of Ruska street, hosted a sports and physical exercise society "Sokil-Batko" that rented 4 premises: 2 gyms, a changing room, and a secretariat. The renting of the premises was initiated by a historian Volodymyr Shukhevych, the then head of the society Alfred Budzynovskyi, and the head of "Dnister" society, a well-known architect Vasyl Nahirnyi. "Sokil-Batko" transferred to the new facility from the building No 7 on ul. Podwale that had been dismantled before the construction of the "Dnister" (Трофим'як, 1997, 29-30, 34). The society focused mostly on physical exercises, a combination of gymnastics and acrobatics. At different times, the coaches were Josyf Kotsylovskyi (future bishop of Przemysl), Petro and Taras Franko (children of the writer Ivan Franko), Stepan Hayduchok, Petro Zymaka, Mykhaylo Tril, Yaroslav Blahitka. In the late 1920s, Olha Sukhoverska launched classes in rhythmic gymnastics, or rather aerobics, and sports dancing. The society also laid large emphasis on fencing. The fencing classes were launched by T. Dzhulynskyi. The boxing training group was also rather fruitful, as guided by Yu. Romaniv. In addition, the gyms also hosted the competitions in volleyball, basketball, checkers, and chess (Трофим'як, 1997, 33; Вацеба, 1997, 14-50).

Gyms were duly equipped with different appliances, such as poles, railings, vaulting horses, bounces, bars, wall bars, Swiss chairs, steel and wooden poles, ropes, lifting platforms, etc. The traces of their use stayed on the ceilings in the form of fitted strong anchors and hooks. A larger gym hall, rectangular in shape, was fitted with a wooden gallery where viewers would stay and the referees for the competitions were placed, as well as a competition orchestra (still available). The lateral wall had a niche for fencing gear, outfit, gloves, and masks (now covered with planks). The smaller gym was equipped similarly.

In the prewar period, the society received most fame due to the gymnasts Yaroslav Blahitka and Yevhen Oryshchyn (later, a well-known internationally certified judge).

In 1940, the "Dnister" building was nationalized. Immediately after the war, the gyms passed to the control of "Spartak" society who were running them until 1987. The gyms hosted classes in wrestling, boxing, then gymnastics, and most successfully, fencing. The facility saw fencing exercises of the champion of the ХІХ Olympics in Mexico (1968), and in Munich (1972) Viktor Sydiak, the prize winner of the Olympics in 1968, 1972, and 1976 a foil fencer Vasyl Stankovych; as well as foil fencers Yevhen Rumin, and a sabre fencer Serhiy Prykhodko. Yana Shemiakina, a champion of the London Olympics (2012) also started her training here.

The old gym is still used by athletes. Presently, there is a specially fitted fencing gym run by the sports society "Ukrayina."