CONFERENCE
By 2023, the UL is to create a modern learning infrastructure in Tornakalns, with five study blocks and all the necessary facilities for active student life. There are close links between the project and the new Pardaugava Center to be built by Riga City Council. The first construction stage, the Academic Centre of Natural Sciences, will have been finished by 30 September, 2014. It will provide facilities for modern chemistry, biology, medicine, geography and earth science studies and scientific work. The UL has already executed geodetic works and archaeological research in the territory of the future center; the results were reported by Andris Sne, the dean of the Faculty of History and Philosophy and the head of the archaeological work, during the presentation event.
At the opening ceremony, the UL Rector Marcis Auzins stressed that the center has been one of the largest construction projects in the last 10 years. Modern infrastructure will contribute to the optimization of studies and research work in the scientific fields of national priority.
The University of Latvia project ” University Infrastructure Modernisation within Priority Study Programmes Development” has initiated a design competition, as a result, the UL will cooperate with the architects' association Sestais stils. They have worked out their sketch project of comfortable, functional, economical and sustainable premises providing a friendly working, studying and living environment. It will become a modern, well- equipped study and research site not only for students, but also for other stakeholders.
The project focuses on the balanced environment factors such as efficient land use and energy saving technologies, at the same time creating spatial structures where man’s comfort will be a top priority.
The center building has a compact free- standing block with two communication hubs and with equivalent facades. The 8-storey building will become home for 4 UL faculties (Geography and Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Biology and Medicine), as well as a number of scientific and research institutes.
The faculties of natural sciences imply implementing innovative building technologies, such as a double facade made of green plants reducing temperature fluctuations in direct sunlight. The new center will feature horizontal elements shadowing the top windows of the south facade and a succulent- coated „ green roof”, as well as wind generators of vertical flow on the roof.
The president of the Latvian Association of Architects, Andris Kronbergs acknowledged that the UL academic center has been a unique project in the last twenty years. The professional association closely monitors its development stages: Tornakalns detailed land planning, sketch competition and design project. The UL strictly complies with these procedures ensuring their transparency and accountability. The architects still haven’t agreed on the center’s visual image. However, A. Kronbergs was delighted with the natural elements of the external facade and energy- saving solutions, indicating that everything is moving in a good direction.
At the end of the presentation the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science, Mareks Grusevskis pointed out the fact that the UL academic center project has been materialized from idea into sketches and model. The first step was taken to make the UL a leading scientific center in the Baltic States.
The estimated total cost of the Project is 22,763,757 LVL. Funding sources: ERDF- 9,326,244 LVL ( 85%), State Budget- 1,630,225 LVL ( 7.17%), UL financing- 1,780,288 LVL( 7.83%). Estimated costs: construction- 15,740 LVL, equipment- 7,000,000 LVL. Additional financing for the construction ( taken from the scientific development project)- 1,300,00 LVL, facilities and equipment- 4,500,000 LVL.
Additional information: Inese Visnevska,
Project coordinator,
Phone: 67034463
E- mail: inese.visnevska@lu.lv Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
At the opening ceremony, the UL Rector Marcis Auzins stressed that the center has been one of the largest construction projects in the last 10 years. Modern infrastructure will contribute to the optimization of studies and research work in the scientific fields of national priority.
The University of Latvia project ” University Infrastructure Modernisation within Priority Study Programmes Development” has initiated a design competition, as a result, the UL will cooperate with the architects' association Sestais stils. They have worked out their sketch project of comfortable, functional, economical and sustainable premises providing a friendly working, studying and living environment. It will become a modern, well- equipped study and research site not only for students, but also for other stakeholders.
The project focuses on the balanced environment factors such as efficient land use and energy saving technologies, at the same time creating spatial structures where man’s comfort will be a top priority.
The center building has a compact free- standing block with two communication hubs and with equivalent facades. The 8-storey building will become home for 4 UL faculties (Geography and Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Biology and Medicine), as well as a number of scientific and research institutes.
The faculties of natural sciences imply implementing innovative building technologies, such as a double facade made of green plants reducing temperature fluctuations in direct sunlight. The new center will feature horizontal elements shadowing the top windows of the south facade and a succulent- coated „ green roof”, as well as wind generators of vertical flow on the roof.
The president of the Latvian Association of Architects, Andris Kronbergs acknowledged that the UL academic center has been a unique project in the last twenty years. The professional association closely monitors its development stages: Tornakalns detailed land planning, sketch competition and design project. The UL strictly complies with these procedures ensuring their transparency and accountability. The architects still haven’t agreed on the center’s visual image. However, A. Kronbergs was delighted with the natural elements of the external facade and energy- saving solutions, indicating that everything is moving in a good direction.
At the end of the presentation the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science, Mareks Grusevskis pointed out the fact that the UL academic center project has been materialized from idea into sketches and model. The first step was taken to make the UL a leading scientific center in the Baltic States.
The estimated total cost of the Project is 22,763,757 LVL. Funding sources: ERDF- 9,326,244 LVL ( 85%), State Budget- 1,630,225 LVL ( 7.17%), UL financing- 1,780,288 LVL( 7.83%). Estimated costs: construction- 15,740 LVL, equipment- 7,000,000 LVL. Additional financing for the construction ( taken from the scientific development project)- 1,300,00 LVL, facilities and equipment- 4,500,000 LVL.
Additional information: Inese Visnevska,
Project coordinator,
Phone: 67034463
E- mail: inese.visnevska@lu.lv Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
