After a year of construction works the Academy will be able to begin the coming academic year 2012/2013 with the addition of a new, modern and well-equipped study venue.
As it is intended to finish all the construction and interior work by the end of the summer, the Academy will be able to start regular academic work in the reconstructed building, which was originally built in 1948, already in September 2012. The new venue will house multifunctional study rooms – a welcome addition to the main building of the Academy –, which will significantly improve the quality of studies and will provide an inspiring setting for learning, professional growth, creation of exciting ideas and fascinating new projects.
Part of the study space available at the reconstructed building will be dedicated to work with images in digital form, entailing both static and moving visual material. The new studio will be open to all students of the Art Academy of Latvia. Students will acquire basic knowledge in courses specifically tailored for the needs of each Department. And those wishing to gain advanced knowledge of digital media will be able to do so in courses for the development of in-depth skills in the chosen field. The creative work at the studio will progress systematically in accordance with the study programme and core assignments in composition. In addition to the regular study rooms the building hosts also a larger multifunctional hall for interdisciplinary studies. On special occasions the hall will be used for exhibitions, local and international conferences, workshops and other study-related events.
The overall objective of the project “Improving the Quality of Studies at the Art Academy of Latvia” is to modernize the infrastructure and facilities of the Academy according to the best modern practice and to improve accessibility of the Academy for people with functional diversity. In addition to the reconstruction of the Household Building, the project provides the Academy an opportunity to update the facilities of its library, to purchase new equipment and other necessary tools and technologies. The investments made enable the Academy to ensure continuous improvement of the quality of education provided in order to offer outstanding education in arts, design and art history that is competitive globally.
The Household Building, which is located in the courtyard of the Academy’s main edifice at 13 Kalpaka Boulevard, Riga, will have two floors with a total area of 549 square metres and a habitable roof with a total area of 115 square metres. Entrance to the building is by a sloping passage that makes its second floor conveniently accessible also to people with functional diversity. To best accommodate the needs of the study process, the venue features quite high ceilings – on average 5 metres. Moreover, in order for the building to retain its original appearance its historic brick walls have been integrated into the restored structure. During the construction, special attention was paid to the quality of the concrete surfaces and the execution of the building’s structure.
Project “Improving the Quality of Studies at the Art Academy of Latvia” is carried out within the framework of the operational programme “Infrastructure and Services” in the planning period 2007 – 2013. Total costs of the project are 1 016 154 LVL, where 85%, i.e., 863 730 LVL were co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, 7.17%, i.e., 72 858 LVL, - by state and 7.83%, i.e., 79 566 – by other public sources.
Reconstruction of the Household Building of the Art Academy of Latvia, 13 Kalpaka Boulevard, Riga
General contractor: SIA "Abora"
Architectural project: SIA "SZK un partneri"
Constructions: SIA "MDK konstruktori"
Construction monitoring: SIA "Celtniecības kvalitātes aģentūra"
Contractors: SIA "Moduls Rīga", SIA "Mehāniskās sistēmas", SIA "Arčers" |
Reconstruction of the Household Building of the Art Academy of Latvia Is Soon to be Completed 
