As a result of the repeated development procurement, SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE) concluded the construction contract for the first stage construction of the cultural and creative industry support centre “TabFab” at Miera iela 58a, Riga, with SIA “Marels būve”. Within the framework of the first stage, the business incubator and film school buildings will be reconstructed and a separate filming pavilion built, informs Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board of SRE.
According to the vision of the architectural office NRJA, the building plan envisages the development of the territory of the Tobacco Factory Quarter on Miera iela in several stages. The development of the quarter will start with the entrance junction – the Creative Industries Business Incubator and the National Film School of the Latvian Academy of Culture, as well as the construction of a separate filming pavilion, renovating and improving the territory in an area of 2325 m2 and public buildings in an area of 1090 m2.
The plan for the creation of the creative quarter envisages combining different aspects of time: the present will be reflected by ensuring of the study process of the students and teachers of the Latvian Academy of Culture and the National Film School in modern and suitable premises, whereas the future potential will be marked by the Creative Industries Business Incubator, which will support and promote viable, competitive business in the cultural and creative industries sector, as well as promote the formation of entrepreneurs and the creation of new jobs.
“The capital company is currently implementing several projects, including the newly started construction of “Riga Makerspace” at A. Briāna iela 13, Riga. Clean-up of the deprived territories opens up new development potential for the urban environment and provides an opportunity for city residents and visitors to rediscover the potential of the neighbourhood. The reconstruction project of the TabFab Quarter will open wide opportunities for education in the field of culture and implementation of business skills and ideas,” says R. Griškevičs.
The first stage of the quarter development will not affect the buildings where the New Riga Theatre (JRT) is now located, as its historic premises at Lāčplēša iela 25, Riga are currently being renovated. The construction progress started in the Tobacco Factory Quarter will be coordinated with the theatre in order to ensure its uninterrupted and continuous operation in the temporary home until the spring of 2023, when the theatre will return to the renovated building on Lāčplēša iela.
The construction works of the first stage will be implemented until the end of 2023, the total cost of construction works in this stage will be 4.62 million euros, incl. the currently approved increase in the cost of the project, which is related to the hostilities in Ukraine, in the amount of 258,150 euros. All the required dismantling and earthworks, as well as partial construction of the new building structures in the first stage will be carried out within the intended amount by the end of 2022. In the 2nd stage of development of the Tobacco Factory Quarter on Miera iela, it is planned to develop premises for the Latvian Academy of Culture in an area of more than 8000 m2, creating premises for the provision of the study process of the study programmes, including the study programmes “Contemporary Dance” and “Performing Arts” and the Cinema/Photo Museum (Riga Cinema Museum, Latvian Museum of Photography).
