VAS ‘Valsts nekustamie īpašumi’ (VNĪ) invites nine contractors to bid in a construction tender for increasing the energy efficiency of the building at Valmiera Drama Theatre at Lāčplēša iela 4, Valmiera. VNĪ is beginning the evaluation process. According to the board chairman of VNĪ, Renārs Griškevičs, construction is to begin this autumn, and will not result in the suspension of the theatre’s operations.
Contractors that have submitted their bids as part of the tender: SIA AIMASA, SIA ‘Ostas celtnieks’, S- BPB bidding consortium, SBSC general partnership, Renesanse-Rubate, SIA Selva Būve, AS UPB, SIA VELVE and SIA WOLTEC. Contract prices offered: from 6.56 million euros to 8.63 million euros (excluding VAT). It will only be possible to talk about the winner of the tender and the contract price after evaluating the bids.
The renovation project of Valmiera Drama Theatre is planned to be implemented by late autumn of 2022. As a result of the project, the appearance of the theatre will be restored, pleasant conditions will be created for the theatre staff and visitors, and 50% savings in heating energy consumption and costs will be achieved. Furthermore, another room for theatre shows will be built, with convenient access for people with special needs. During the construction works, the foundations of the building will be strengthened in order to ensure the existing functionality of the theatre and improve the longevity of the building.
Within the framework of the project, stage floodlights have been purchased for the Great Hall of the theatre, as well as it is planned to purchase spectator chairs and equipment for the newly built hall - sound, light equipment and stage constructions. The construction project for the renovation and energy efficiency works for the theatre has been developed by SIA SESTAIS STILS.
In order to achieve savings in heat and electricity costs in public sector buildings, as well as to improve the technical and aesthetic condition of buildings, in 2019 VNĪ attracted funding from the European Regional Development Fund for eleven energy efficiency improvement projects in public buildings - four of which are implemented in theatres: Valmiera Drama Theatre, New Riga Theatre, Latvian Puppet Theatre and Daile Theatre, two - in the buildings of the State Archives of Latvia - at Skandu iela in Riga and a project already completed in 2020 - Daugavpils branch of the State Archives of Latvia at Komandanta iela 9. In 2020, the energy performance of the building was also improved at S. Broka Daugavpils Music Secondary School, the President's residence in Jūrmala and the new Prosecutor's office building at Aspazijas bulvāris 7 in Riga.
The Valmiera Drama Theatre building is a valuable example of modern architecture and a cultural-historical site of its period. The building was built in 1996 on the site of the former Latvian Society House according to the project of architects M. Ģelzis, O. Upaciere and J. Gusevs. It is a large modern brick wall building with two halls, a theatre museum, an art salon and a café.
Under the conditions of the pandemic, in accordance with the precautionary and safety requirements, work at 43 national construction sites with a total project budget of 156 million euros continues under the management of VNĪ. The company is one of 23 Latvian companies that have received the highest platinum award as part of the Sustainability Index of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, confirming the good governance and sustainability of its operations. VNĪ was founded in 1996, 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia.
