News

International architectural contest to find a solution for the new joint building of the Tallinn Music High School, Ballet School and Georg Ots Music School

19.10.2010

Press Release
Riigi Kinnisvara AS, Union of Estonian Architects, Ministry of Education and Research
19 October 2010

Riigi Kinnisvara AS, in cooperation with the Union of Estonian Architects and the Ministry of Education and Research, has launched an international two-stage design contest to find a solution for the new administrative building of the Tallinn Music High School, Ballet School and Georg Ots Music School.

The joint building of the schools will have 18 200 square metres of floor space and will be built in Tallinn on the registered immovables located at Pärnu mnt 57/Liivalaia tn 2a, Pärnu mnt 59 and Pärnu mnt 61.

The objective of the design contest is to find the most suitable architectural solution for the new building, as well as to find site solutions for traffic management, landscaping, etc. The building is required to be of high architectural quality, while being practical both in terms of building management and construction works.

Tõnis Lukas, Minister of Education and Research, recalled that it was ten years ago when the then managers of the Music High School submitted to him the proposal to move the school into the city centre. "Since then, a lot of time has been spent on finding a suitable lot. Now we have agreed on the location for the joint school building and have made the preparations for design work," said the minister. “Funding has also been arranged, and all that remains to be done now is to build it,” he added.

Aarne Saluveer, head of the Georg Ots Music School, said that the new building must become a venue for arranging various music events all year round, and an attraction to music lovers also from outside Estonia. “We want it to be the best music school building in Europe,” he said.

The total prize fund of the design contest is EEK 1.4 million, of which the main prize will be EEK 400 000, second prize will be EEK 250 000 and third prize will be EEK 150 000. The rest of the prize fund will be divided between the six best entries of the first stage.

After the first stage, an international jury will shortlist the top 10 contestants, who will be asked to develop their concepts further and who will go on to compete in the second stage. Six of them will be awarded a motivational prize, and a proposal will be made to four of them to develop their solutions further without a participation fee.

In the first stage, the deadline for submitting qualification documents and contest entries is 20 January 2011.

The second stage of the contest is planned to be launched on 18 February 2011. In the second stage, participants will submit an enhanced solution by 18 April 2011.

The winner of the architectural contest will be announced by the end of next May.

Contest instructions are available on the website of the Register of Public Tenders (Riigihangete Register): https://riigihanked.riik.ee/rhr/RegisterHanked.html under reference number 121044.

Additional information:

Indrek Riisaar
Head of the State Property Department
Ministry of Education and Research
Indrek.riisaar@hm.ee

Liina Laineveer
Union of Estonian Architects
Managing Director
Tel. +372 6117435
liina@arhliit.ee

Marko Sula
Riigi Kinnisavara AS
Development Project Manager
Marko.sula@rkas.ee