Special postage stamp dedicated to Academic Centre for Natural Sciences of UL

The stamp is featuring the Academic Centre for Natural Sciences which is the seventh stamp in the series  “Contemporary Architecture of Latvia”. Its face value is € 1.39 and the print run of the stamp is 150 000 copies. Along with the stamp has been released a special cover with a print run of 1500 copies. The author of both designs is artist Ģirts Grīva. The first day of issue cancellation of the stamp has been deliberately planned to take place on the birthday of UL, emphasises Indriķis Muižnieks, the rector of the UL. “The postage stamp is physically small but its meaning holds a greatly symbolic dedication to the newly established progress by the Academic Centre for Natural Sciences that marks the journey of the University. The Academic Centre definitely deserves a recognition – it has been receiving major support and attention from our students, professors, as well as other people, who are interested in it. The excursions, conferences and meetings take place daily within the Centre. People acknowledge its positive atmosphere and want to work there,” affirms I. Muižnieks. The Academic Centre was chosen among other architectural objects based on several reasons. “Last year, this building was honoured by  a number of architectural awards, including  the Annual Rīga Architecture Award and won the popular vote of the best building in 2016. There are around hundred proposals for a stamp’s release but only the best and most interesting ones are chosen, and that is a very special occasion,” says the vice president of Philatelic Society of Latvia Egils Plūme. On this day, at the Academic Centre of the UL (Jelgavas iela 1, Rīga) everyone will have an opportunity to acquire the new stamp and cover, as well as to post them to a person of one's choice. A mobile post office will operate here throughout the day. The postal mark on the stamp will be unique, available only on this day and a reminder of this significant event. The Academic Centre for Natural Sciences of the UL is the first entirely newly built higher education building since the restoration of independence in Latvia, and it is one of the most up-to-date education and science centres in Europe. Architecture bureau “Sestais Stils” developed the plan of the building and supervised the construction, while the building was carried out by the LNK Industries Group. The centre has seven floors, which house contemporary auditoriums, laboratories, work and seminar rooms, and a library. The top floor accomodates a specialised greenhouse for scientific purposes.