In July of this year, within the framework of the environmental accessibility project, SJSC "State Real Estate" (SRE) started reconstruction works in the building located at 43 Pasta Street in Jelgava, where several state institutions' structural units operate. This project is being implemented to ensure accessibility of services in the welfare sector for all groups of society, including people with disabilities and functional impairments.
"This project is an excellent example of how improving environmental accessibility can contribute to integration and equal opportunities in society and is just one of several development projects aimed at improving environmental accessibility. In SRE development projects, where partial or complete reconstruction of the building is envisaged, environmental accessibility solutions are provided, ensuring appropriate ramps, lifts, elevators, adjusting the size of doors and corridors to allow people with reduced mobility to move freely, including in a wheelchair. Tangible letters, numbers and Braille are also used to mark stair handrails and other design elements to provide access to information for blind people. We have also developed projects that include special solutions to enhance audibility, for example, JRT acoustic loops," explains Jeļena Gavrilova, Member of the SRE Board.
The project aims to significantly expand the range of public services and public buildings where both public welfare and municipal social services are provided. In addition, the central task is to ensure access to the environment, employment and information for all citizens, regardless of their abilities and limitations. The project will include the reconstruction of the main entrance at 43 Pasta Street in Jelgava, including a diagonal lift and new entrance doors. The ground floor toilet facilities will also be renovated to meet environmental accessibility requirements.
The design-build contract for the project has been awarded to SIA "Pillar contractor", and the total contract price amounts to EUR 145 275 excluding VAT. Work has already started and is expected to be completed in November of this year. The project is implemented within the framework of the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM) Plan 3.1 Reforms and Investment Axis "Regional Policy", specifically under the first round of "Measures to promote access to public services and employment for people with functional disabilities", "Measures to ensure accessibility of the environment in public and municipal buildings", total RRM funding of EUR 111 000 excluding VAT.
VNĪ provides professional real estate management and maintenance for 371 building and structure properties, comprising 1007 buildings with a total area of 0.97 million m2, as well as land beneath structures with a total area of 607 ha, and 3404 land properties with a total area of 883 ha. SRE is one of 17 Latvian companies that received the highest platinum award in the Institute for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability's Sustainability Index 2023, demonstrating good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996 and the Ministry of Finance is its sole shareholder.
