RSU is growing and developing: major reconstruction underway in the main building

Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), like the city of Riga, will never be ready – it is in a state of continuous growth and change. Currently, construction work is taking place at several RSU sites, including the main building at 16 Dzirciema iela.

Why is the RSU main building undergoing reconstruction?

Jankevičs: The second, third, and fourth floors of Blocks D and G at 16 Dzirciema iela had not undergone any major renovation since the building was constructed in 1987, and they were still retaining repair features carried out in the Soviet-era and in the 1990s. The premises lacked centralised ventilation and air conditioning, the water pipes and sewage systems were worn out with outdated power supply, low-voltage and security solutions. The library also had long-standing issues with its roof that regularly leaked. The library’s first floor was renovated in 2016, but the refurbishment of the second floor, improvement of the book storage facilities, and modernisation of student workspaces had been repeatedly postponed. 

Considering the deterioration of the facilities and the need to provide a modern study environment, the RSU Rector’s Office approved the reconstruction plan for Blocks D and G in October 2021. Detailed construction design and procurement began in 2022.

 What will RSU gain after the reconstruction? 

Jankevičs: By the end of the reconstruction in spring 2026, RSU will gain more than 2,700 m² of fully renovated space, which will be technically and functionally adapted to modern requirements. 

 What work has already been done and what still needs to be done? 

Mitrofanova: The reconstruction of Blocks D and G and the furnishing of the premises will be completed in spring 2026. Some areas are already finished — in October, the Administration Office resumed its operations, and the library’s book collection has been moved to the new premises on the second floor of Block G.

On the third and fourth floors of Block D, the final finishing works are underway: carpeting is almost finished, acoustic panels and lighting fixtures are being set up, and by the end of the year, scaffolding will be removed from the facade of the building. Remaining tasks include the formal acceptance of the premises for exploitation and their equipment with furniture and technical equipment. The goal is to allow six to seven structural units, which are currently working in temporary premises on the RSU campus and elsewhere in Riga during the construction work, to return to the renovated premises in the spring of 2026. 

Jankevičs: This year and in 2026, significant improvements are also planned in other sections of the main building. On the sixth floor of Block A, the premises for the Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research have been completed, and by the end of the year, on the first floor of Block K, the former museum premises will be renovated and opened as a service centre for international students.

In the summer of 2026, extensive reconstruction work will take place in the lobby and sanitary facilities on the first and second floors of Block K. The RSU History Museum collection located there will not disappear – it will be displayed in the lobby showcases for visitors attending events in the Great Hall, as well as those in the study areas. There will also be changes on the second-floor lobby, increasing the number of study furniture items popular with students.

Other major infrastructure improvements are also continuing. Next year, the European Union funds will be used to adapt Lecture Theatre 3 in Block C for group work, and by 2027, it will be more convenient and versatile in its use: instead of traditional rows of chairs, there will be terraces with mobile tables and chairs, as well as access to the latest generation digital technologies. Outside of lecture hours, the Lecture Theatre will be opened for student independent work. 

From 2026 to 2030, RSU plans several significant changes in the main building: increased number of computer classrooms, improved functionality of other large lecture theatres and restroom facilities, and reorganisation of the central lobby area to reduce noise and crowding.

Along with the construction of the new building between the main building and the Institute of Stomatology, additional adjustments will be made in the areas that will be vacated after the relocation of structural units. 

Significant outdoor improvements are also expected. In 2026, the RSU Inspiration Park is planned to be substantially expanded, and the area near Mazā Dārza iela will be upgraded by creating convenient pedestrian paths, recreation zones, lighting, information displays, parking lots with electric charging stations, and short-term parking lots for visitors and people with mobility impairments. 

In the long term, the shortage of parking spaces on RSU territory will also be addressed by expanding the area in the direction to 1 Dārza iela.

At the same time, micromobility infrastructure will be developed, including cycle lanes to make it easier to reach RSU buildings at 26A Anniņmuižas bulvāris, 9A Kuldīgas iela, as well as the Anatomical Theatre.

What are the biggest challenges in the reconstruction process?

Jankevičs: The last time construction works of this scale took place in the RSU main building was more than 10 years ago, when Blocks B and C were renovated in 2013-2014. This time, the challenge is particularly significant, as the reconstruction is taking place in the most actively used part of the building, where many structural units operate on a daily basis.

The construction work must be carried out as discreetly as possible so that the university can continue to function without major disruption. It could be compared to a precise, yet highly complex operation performed without anaesthesia.

The reconstruction also included several major engineering network shutdowns – heating, water supply, low-voltage systems, and power supply. In summer 2024, the main power distribution board was replaced. All of this work was carefully planned to avoid prolonged disruption to the university’s operations.

Additional difficulties were caused by space restrictions, as the location of the construction site required a reduction in the number of parking spaces and changes to pedestrian traffic flows both inside the building and in the surrounding area. The situation was also complicated due to the extreme weather and flood of 2025, which led to a nation-wide state of emergency. This created a number of additional challenges for construction workers and construction supervisors. Combined, these factors extended the construction period by almost six months, but the additional solutions and measures implemented were essential to ensure the university’s continued operation and to protect its infrastructure, staff, and students.

I would like to thank the university’s staff and students for their patience and understanding during the construction works. Only with the determination and hard work of all our colleagues will the RSU infrastructure and environment become more developed and modern.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the implementation of the project for their significant contribution:

• Guntars Aizstrauts, RSU Computer Network Administrator, and Igors Maisaks, Security System Manager, for their work on transferring the central IT communications hub before the start of construction works in 2024
• Gita Garlo and Dainis Zemešs for their work on relocating structural units to other workplaces from the end of 2023 to the second half of 2024
• The RSU Building Management and Maintenance Unit team and Laila Skrodele, Head of the Unit, Aleksandrs Kočņevs, RSU Fire Safety and Civil Protection Specialist, Renārs Jakovickis, Head of Security at SIA Security & Consulting, and his team, Igors Maisaks, RSU Security Systems Manager, and Kaspars Strēlis, Construction Project Manager, for their close cooperation in planning the construction process and ensuring that all necessary safety requirements were met during the construction
• Andris Gudelis, RSU Chief Energy Engineer, and Andis Miončinskis, Head of RSU Technical and Transportation Unit, for ensuring the continuity of electricity, heating, and water supply systems
• Special mention should be made of those directly involved in the construction: the PS P and S Būvniecība teams, Construction Managers Andrejs Kalniņš and Aleksandrs Grigorjevs, Project Manager Kaspars Strēlis and Company Manager Juris Spīķis, SIA CMB designers and supervisors Zane Koroļa and Nauris Strika, Construction Engineer Kaspars Šņore, and other designers, Construction Supervisor of SIA Būvēlogs projekti Toms Kronbergs, as well as the RSU construction project management team, Vita Mitrofanova and Aigars Jankevičs