On 3 September this year, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister for Education and Science Anita Muižniece, the Riga Technical University (RTU) staff, students, and industry professionals gathered near the Zunda canal in Ķīpsala for the official opening of two new buildings—the RTU’s Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology and a lecture-hall centre Domus Auditorialis.

“September has been a fruitful month for us in terms of completed projects. We are delighted to see that the RTU’s students will now be able to acquire new knowledge in a well-planned, modern space specially designed for studies,” stresses Ilgvars Pauls, the RTU project manager at Skonto Būve.

The new building is a fine gift to the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology on its 60th anniversary, which takes place this year. For the first time in its existence, the faculty has acquired a space specially designed for its needs. The building boasts a modern, well-organised study and research space, well-equipped labs for students and scientists, a research centre, computer halls, spacious and light lecture-rooms. Also, every floor has a comfortable relaxation area where students may meet, network, generate innovative ideas that may hopefully turn into products of high added value.

Domus Auditorialis, a co-working lecture-hall centre, will be able to house lectures, conferences, and other events for a large number of people. The centre has a large lecture hall for about 600 visitors, which may be transformed into two or three smaller halls, each welcoming 100 guests respectively. The high-quality technical equipment ensures that the rooms will have modern sound and lighting solution, as well as simultaneous interpreting facilities.

The RTU has set to make its student campus in Ķīpsala the largest and most cutting-edge centre of engineering in the Baltics. The new faculty building will house all the engineering programmes, the Lab house, a scientific library, a student hotel, and a swimming pool under one roof.