A short term detention place at Hospitāļu iela 3, in Daugavpils, which was designed by Skonto Būve, received an appreciation prize as the best new building in Latvia last year in the annual show "Construction of the Year 2012 in Latvia" organised by the Latvian Builders Association. In the nomination Restoration Skonto Būve also received an award for the reconstruction and renovation works performed in the building of the Bank of Latvia, at K.Valdemāra iela 1B.

Modris Seļakovs, Project Manager of Skonto Būve, in the contest "Construction Engineer of the Year 2012 in Latvia" received an award in the nomination "Project Manager of the Year 2012 in Latvia" for the work performed on the same facility.

A contest "Construction Engineer of the Year 2012 in Latvia" took place for the fifth year already and professionals were given awards in four categories. This year the contest was organised by the professional construction, architecture and design media alliance magazines "The Construction of Latvia" and "Latvian Architecture".

By the ceremonial signing of the agreement, the construction of P. Stradins Clinical University Hospital’s new block has commenced. The construction work is being carried out by the partnership of Skonto Būve and Re&Re.

The partnership offered the lowest contract price of 39 090 857 for the design, monitoring and implementation of construction work, and the supply, instalment and maintenance of built-in equipment during the term of warranty.

By taking part in the ceremonial signing of this agreement with Ingrīda Circene, the Minister of Health, Ivars Millers, the co-owner of the joint construction companies Skonto Būve and Ainārs Pauniņš, the representative of Re&Re, Rūta Valtere, the Chairperson of the Board of Stradins Clinical University Hospital, emphasized the significance of the new block in providing modern world class medical services.

The development project of Stradins hospital started in 2006 with an international workshop, and the construction of the new block is the first step in the implementation of this project. The Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital was founded in 1910, several blocks were also built during the Soviet era. The infrastructure of the hundred years’ old buildings has deteriorated and no longer complies with contemporary requirements.

The Project “Treatment of a Historically Contaminated Location – Liepaja Port Karosta Canal” will be implemented by the collective partnership SB & B, a union of the Latvian company Skonto Būve and the Dutch Boskalis International B.V.. The Project will be implemented with the assistance of the EUCohesion Fund, and its total amount is LVL 12 099 900. 68 including VAT.

Uldis Sesks, Chairman of Liepaja City Council and the Board of Liepaja Special Economic Zone: “The lasting presence of a military base and the pollution that the Soviet army left behind upon leaving has turned Karosta Canal into one of the most contaminated places in Latvia. However, the agreement that has been signed will soon make this history – canal treatment will not only avert the potential ecological dangers that are increasing every year, but also improve the quality of life of people living in the Karosta area.”

Juris Pētersons, Project Manager of Skonto Būve: “We have gathered a team of experienced professionals, and won the tender by preparing the most competitive offer and proposing the lowest costs to the customer. I am certain that the successful implementation of the rehabilitation works will once again demonstrate the motto of our company – “with responsibility for the environment”. The scope of work is substantial, and the project results will both be appreciated by people residing in Liepaja and city guests.”

The Project provides the treatment of the Karosta Canal bed by gathering the polluted sediments and depositing them in a previously established area in the east end of Karosta Canal. Upon implementation of this Project, pollution in Karosta Canal will be eliminated in a total area of 780 000 m2, and the quality of the environment in Liepaja port will be improved. The Project will also have a general positive effect on the Baltic Sea – the risk of its pollution will be reduced.

The agreement has been signed by Guntars Krieviņš, Head of the Liepaja Special Economic Zone, Mattijs Siebinga, Director of Boskalis International B.V. on behalf of the collective partnership SB&B, and Juris Pētersons, Project Manager of Skonto Būve.

A ballet performance of “Carmen. 5 Tangos” will be introduced for the first time on the stage of the Latvian National Opera (the LNO) with the world-famous prima ballerina Ulyana Lopatkina from the Mariinsky Theatre in the starring role.

Aivars Leimanis, the Artistic Director of the Latvian National Ballet, emphasised during the press conference for the premiere that a project of such a scale would not be possible without the support of the patron of the Latvian National Ballet – Skonto Būve.

In his turn, Guntis Rāvis, Chairman of the Board of Skonto Būve, pointed out that “The Latvian National Ballet is a positive statement for the competitiveness of Latvia and its inhabitants not only in the European but also global context. It is a pleasure that the artists of Latvian ballet are shining stars both on the stages of other countries, and also pamper the Latvian audience here in Riga by creating performances together with world-class ballet stars".

In the presence of ex-presidents Guntis Ulmanis and Valdis Zatlers, the reconstruction and restoration of Riga’s first building – Riga Castle was symbolically started. The construction works will be carried out by SBRE, which is a union of Skonto Būve and Re&Re.

 As a gift from the commissioning party Real Estate Latvia (VNĪ), the builders got a set of tools for polishing gold incrustations, in return they gave the commissioner a sandglass, symbolising the starting time of the project.

Wide scale complicated repair works are about to be carried out on Riga Castle, starting with the basement fortification and ending with interior restoration.  The frontal part of the castle will serve the needs of the Chancery of the President; it consists of several rooms, such as the White Hall, Celebration Hall and others, which are currently in critical condition and out of use. The total area of Riga Castle’s frontal part to be repaired is 8 688 m^2, the total area of the East wing is 1 671.3 m². The total  area undergoing reconstruction is 10 359.3m^2.