In the procurement of SJSC “State Real Estate” (SRE) for the development of the 1st stage of the Tobacco Factory Quarter in Riga, 58a Miera iela, among the competition of 17 construction contractors, the offer of JSC “UPB” for 3.53 million euros was recognised as the most economically favourable. If there are no appeals, SRE will enter into an agreement with the entrepreneur and construction works will commence in the coming months, informs Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board of SRE.
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 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 public space in an area of 1,019 m2 and public buildings in an area of 1,667 m2. In the first stage of the quarter's development, the buildings where the New Riga Theatre is currently located will not be affected.
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 8,000 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).
“The large number of applications submitted by construction contractors - a total of 17 that applied within the framework of the tender - creates confidence in the professionalism of the capital company by developing clear requirements and organising the procurement procedure. The trend of the last six months - the growing number of applications in public construction tenders in general is a positive signal for the industry and its sustainability,” R. Griškevičs points out.
The project is financed from the allocated means of Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” 5.6.1. specific support objective “To promote the revitalisation of the city of Riga, ensuring the efficient socio-economic use of the territory” (85% is ERDF funding, 15% is the state budget contribution).
Simultaneously with the development of the Tobacco Factory Quarter, SRE is implementing the creation of two more creative quarters. Just around the corner, rebuilding the former Riga Light Industry Technical School building in Riga, A. Briāna Street 13, an advanced prototyping workshop “Riga Makerspace” will be created in Riga, adapting premises for the needs of Riga Art and Design Secondary School and the Latvian Academy of Art, while in the Šķirotava area at Meirānu iela 2, a performing arts decoration workshop complex for the SJSC “Latvian National Opera and Ballet” will be created. Construction works in three quarters in the areas of Riga are planned to be put into operation in the autumn of 2023. The projects are financed from the means attracted by the Ministry of Culture from the European Union fund Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” 5.6.1. specific support objective “To promote the revitalisation of the city of Riga, ensuring the efficient socio-economic use of the territory”.
Last year, 17 nationally significant development projects with a total budget of 29.5 million euros were completed under the leadership of SRE. Under the conditions of the pandemic, in accordance with the precautionary and safety requirements, work on 43 different construction objects of national importance with a total project budget of 156 million euros continue under the management of SRE. The company provides professional real estate management and administration for approximately 400 real estate properties with 1100 buildings of 1.02 million square metres and more than 3600 land properties of 9.6 million square metres. This year SRE is one of the 23 Latvian companies that have received the highest platinum award in the evaluation of the Sustainability Index of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, confirming the good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996, 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia.
