The construction of both of the buildings in the Centrus quarter has reached a significant phase of the project - the Rafter Raising Ceremony was held at the beginning of March. Traditionally, the Rafter Raising Ceremony is held when a building has reached its tallest point, and the construction of it structure and roof is finished. As the construction works of the reinforced concrete framing and roof have concluded, the most important tasks in the nearest future are related to the interior design and construction of the facade. 

As we know, the construction of the Centrus quarter will conclude at the end of 2015 with the completion of two 7-story residential buildings. The Centrus quarteris being built as a facilitated, attractive, independent, and high-quality living space and business location in the very centre of Riga. It is located in the busy part of Riga, surrounded by Tērbatas, Dzirnavu, Blaumaņa, and Krišjāņa Barona streets.

On 4 February, the second railway track in the section Skrīveri-Krustpils, a most ambitious project worth over 100 million euros that will allow significant increase of train throughput, larger speed and greater security in the direction from Krustpils to Riga, was officially opened.

The ambitious project involved the construction of completely new railway infrastructure - new tracks of 56 km, engineering buildings and systems, reconstruction of a bridge over the River Pērse and the existing culverts and crossings. Also, a new bridge was built over the Aiviekste, becoming the first railway bridge built after the restoration of independence of Latvia. The project also included the reconstruction of five train stations and the development of territories.

Guntis Rāvis, Chair of the Board of “Skonto Būve” Ltd. said: “Within the last few years I have had the opportunity to name several large-scale projects which have been some of the greatest in the last decade. The development of railway infrastructure in the section Skrīveri-Krustpils is among them. The ability of Latvian enterprises to collaborate was the key to success in the implementation of various complex objects, and this project serves as excellent proof of this ability”.

“This was a long-awaited and carefully prepared project, which was needed both for the railway, as well as for Latvia. This major achievement will allow the company to work more efficiently, ensuring stable revenue to the state budget and contributing to the development of the railway sector in general. And people will certainly appreciate the reconstructed train station platforms and well-developed territories,” noted the President of the Latvian Railways Uģis Magonis.

The extensive work was carried out by “Skonto Būve” in general partnership with JSC “BMGS”, JSC “A.C.B” and “Binders” Ltd.

With a symbolic capsule immured into the foundations of the building on 6 November, the construction of Riga International Airport’s new terminal officially started. The capsule contained a message for the following generations, a badge dedicated to the 40^th anniversary of the Airport, a special Euro coin, and the latest issue of the newspaper “Dienas Bizness”.

The Chairman of the Board of Skonto Būve, Guntis Rāvis said: “I am delighted about the opportunity that has been given to Skonto Būve – the national construction company – to carry out a project of such significance for the country. The knowledge and successful previous experience of our construction professionals, gained in airport development projects in both Latvia, and the recently concluded Trondheim Airport project in Norway, will be an important contribution to the development of the Riga International Airport as the leading airport in the Baltic States. I am glad that construction workers are now at the airport, not to go working abroad, but to improve Latvia’s “business card” and to contribute to the development of the country. The construction is being carried out according to plan and in the highest quality.”

As the Chairman of the Board of the Riga International Airport Aldis Mūrnieks stated, the first construction stage of this building is the beginning of a long process with an aim to strengthen the position of the Riga International Airport as the leading Baltic and northern European airport. The expansion of the terminal is a logical continuation of the 40 year long development of the Airport.

The first round of the Airport terminal development foresees the non-Schengen zone expansion and four new boarding sectors, thus improving the quality of the airport services. After completion, the new terminal building will be able to service larger aircrafts, increasing the airport’s capacity.

The construction works are being carried out by SIA Skonto Būve, construction supervision is provided by the general partnership Būvalts P.M.G, and thearchitects of the project are SIA Arhis Arhitekti.

A new production of “Romeo and Juliet” – a ballet by the great composer of the 20^th centurySergey Prokofiev, premieres in the Latvian National Opera (LNO).

The patron of the LNO and the Chairman of the Board of the company Skonto Būve, Guntis Rāvis: “I am deeply honoured and grateful that it’s already been five seasons since Skonto Būve started cooperation with Aivars Leimanis and the Latvian National Ballet, delighting everyone with two new productions each year.”

The Artistic Director of the LNO, Aivars Leimanis, emphasised that without the support of Skonto Būve several productions would not have been staged. “I personally thank Guntis Rāvis. Our programme would be much emptier if we did not receive support from Skonto Būve,” says Aivars Leimanis. He said that this will be the fourth production of “Romeo and Juliet” and in each of them the creators have kept up with the times.

The choreographer of the ballet, Valentīna Turku, revealed that the inspiration behind this production was love: “Love is above all else, and the dancers on the stage must be very brave in order to demonstrate it.”

Sergey Prokofiev got the idea to compose “Romeo and Juliet” in 1934. Initially he planned to change the ending of the well-known story and allow the new lovers to continue their lives happily, however, affected by the atmosphere caused by the repression of the Stalin era, Prokofiev decided to keep the traditional ending. The ballet “Romeo and Juliet” saw its triumphant premiere in 1938 in Brno. Before now it has been staged in Latvia three times – in 1953, 1982 and 1999.

On 12 - 14 September in Valmiera Olympic Centre, with the support of Skonto Būve, the Latvia Davis Cup Team will compete with the Austrian National Tennis Team within the Davis Cup competition.

Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the premier international team event in men's tennis, and is organised by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). This competition has taken place since 1900, when a contest between the national teams of the United States and Great Britain was held. This year 122 national teams are participating in the competition at various levels, and the Latvia team is competing in the Europe/Africa Zone of Group 1.

The first group duel for Latvia took place in February, in Slovakia, in which our tennis players conceded to the home side. The matches against Austria will be to stay in this group. Until now these two teams’ paths have not crossed in the Davis Cup. Currently Latvia takes 39th, but Austria - 21st position in the Davis Cup rankings.