In September 2020, the University concluded a contract for the design and construction of the House of Letters. The construction of the building was started in 2022 and its opening is expected in 2025. The total amount of investment is EUR 65.15 million including VAT. For the construction of the House of Letters, the University has attracted loans from the European Investment Bank and the Development Bank of the Council of Europe for a total amount of 41.5 million euros, which is planned to be repaid from the income from the sale of real estate released as a result of consolidation.
Indicators | Data |
Useful area, m2 | 26k |
Land area, m2 | 45.5k |
Number of floors | Basement + 8 |
Number of jobs | 847 |
Number of visitors per day, on average | 4900 |
Total investment, EUR (with VAT) | 65,15M |
Energy consumption, kWh | 106 kWh/m2 per year |
1. The House of Letters is the most ambitious investment in humanities and social sciences since the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia.
2. The House of Letters will unite faculties and institutes together, allowing students to expand their horizons and collaborate interdisciplinary, promoting the synergy of study and research directions and the emergence of new discoveries.
3. The Academic Centre, including the House of Letters, will enable the introduction of more and more research and development-oriented technologies in Latvia, contributing in the long term to the training of a qualified workforce and positively influencing economic growth in the country as a whole.
When will the House of Letters be completed?
The opening of the House of Letters is expected in 2025.
How many floors will there be in the House of Letters?
The House of Letters will have 8 floors above ground level, as well as a basement.
Will additional bicycle parking spaces be built?
Yes. When The House of Letters will be put into use, 300 bicycle parking spaces will be built near it, half of which will be covered with a canopy.
Will there be a cafe in this building?
Yes. On the first floor of the building, there is a place for a cafe or a canteen, with a spacious and cozy open-type dining and relaxation area.
How will the House of Letters differ from the House of Nature and the House of Science?
This building will have a 500-seat auditorium, a meditation room, an exhibition hall, as well as 2 whole atriums, which will make the House of Letters different from other buildings.
Will copying services be available?
Yes. The UL library, which provides both copying and scanning services, will be located in the House of Letters.
Will there be free-access electrical outlets for charging smart devices?
Yes. Electrical outlets for charging smart devices will be available throughout the building, most often they will be found near the open-access reading room and open-access workplaces.
What will be on the roof?
In the II construction phase solar panels will be built on the roof. As part of construction phase I, a network connection to these panels will be established. There will also be 2 auditoriums on this same floor.
