One of the first skyscrapers built on Geležinio Vilko Street in Vilnius is outdated and no longer meets the market needs. There are plans to demolish it and build a new office building in its place, says Arvydas Avulis, head of the real estate company Hanner.
“This week, on Wednesday, we have to present the solutions to the regional council of architects. If it is approved, then we will start publicising the project,” Avulis told LRT.lt.
“We are at an absolutely early stage; we have not even received the design brief from the municipality. However, if we receive a building permit, we can start demolition works in the summer of next year,” he added.
The 15-storey office building was completed in 2001. According to the Real Estate Register, both the building and the 0.3327-hectare plot of land are owned by Hanner’s company Prime Location Property Fund.
Avulis stressed that the building, nicknamed the Glass Pencil, was designed in 1999.
“The building’s engineering systems are hopelessly outdated and worn out. There are many other things that need to be fixed. We looked at two options: either a major renovation or simply rebuilding. When we asked the project’s author, Audrius Ambrasas, we came to the conclusion that it would be easier to demolish it and build a new one,” he said.
According to the head of Hanner, construction trends were different some 25 years ago.
“At that time, it was a class A glass building – the tallest building in Lithuania. Some people had started calling it a skyscraper,” he said. “Now, there are other trends, there is more focus on integrity, ie how one building fits in with another, what is the overall urban landscape.”
Avulis also noted that the office building has a floor area of 350 square metres per floor. Nowadays, however, similar buildings have a floor area of around 600 square metres, which can accommodate bigger companies.
“There’s also the issue of engineering solutions – ventilation and heating systems have completely changed. Now, they are much more advanced, use less energy, and are in line with the green course that we must follow,” he said.
“Looking 20 or 30 years ahead, it is more rational to demolish that building and build a new one that meets today’s requirements and market demand,” Avulis explained, adding that the new building should be lower than the current one.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
