A new building, the House of Science, was inaugurated last Monday at the Academic Center, which the University of Latvia is developing in Riga’s Tornakalns neighbourhood. Consolis Latvija, Consolis’ subsidiary in Latvia, delivered precast elements for the project.
A new scientific hub for the University of Latvia
The House of Science will comprise the studies and research in exact sciences, medicine and life sciences in one location. Sestais Stils Architects designed the building, and the main building contractor implementing this project was LNK Industries Group. Consolis Latvija provided the facade walls (2,500 m²) and stair elements (100 m³) for the project.
The total floor area at the House of Science exceeds 20,000 m². It can ensure study space for up to 2,000 students and workplaces for 450 scientific and academic staff members.
The building has solutions for high energy efficiency. For example, the cold slabs — heating and cooling systems built into the concrete slabs — allow for adequate cooling in summer and heating in winter.
A significant project for the education and science sector
Founded in 1919, the University of Latvia is one of the largest academic institutions in the Baltic States. It aimed to be one of the leading science universities in the Baltic region and recognised as a major research and innovation centre in Europe and globally. To increase its capacity and upgrade its facilities, the University has been undergoing extensive modernisation in recent years.
As part of this project, the University has already built the House of Nature, which opened in 2015. Consolis Latvia delivered sandwich walls and decorative facade elements to this project and carried out the assembly on site. The production of the X-shaped elements of the facade recalled in both buildings presented a significant manufacturing challenge.
With the House of Science just finished, construction of the House of Letters is planned in the next stage of the project, scheduled for completion in 2022.
Photo credit: A4D.lv and artiszvi, Copyright © Toms Grīnbergs, Latvijas Universitātes Komunikācijas un inovāciju departaments, Sarmīte Livdāne, Latvijas Universitātes Muzejs, Foto.lu.lv.
