Kapitel completes 60-million-euro office development in Riga

Kapitel completed Elemental Business Centre office development in Riga, with a total investment of over 60 million euros and 75% of the spaces leased out. Today, 500 employees from ten companies work here, with the next tenants moving in in February. The author of the outstanding buildings is Indrek Allmann from the Estonian architectural firm Pluss Architects. The energy-efficient buildings are the first in Latvia to apply for the BREEAM sustainability certification at the highest level Outstanding and were awarded the Best Green Initiative Award by the BREL Forum jury.

“After a very long period of silence, several new office developments have been completed in Riga in the last couple of years, which means active supply and the opportunity for tenants to choose their office space in a new modern building. The quality of the building and the distinctiveness of the project play a very important role in a highly competitive environment. At Elemental Business Centre, we have placed great emphasis on an employee-friendly environment and sustainable solutions that help to keep utility costs low. Thanks to this, we have been able to achieve sales success and lease out a large part of the buildings,” said Taavi Ojala, CEO of Kapitel.

According to architect Indrek Allmann, the building is designed to dominate the long Skanstes Street, which offers views from different directions. The pair of towers, with their clear form and colour scheme, is like a sculptural landmark that greets all visitors from afar. “We designed the office buildings to be future-proof in an environmentally friendly way – it is easy to approach by bike and public transport, here is lot of air and the maximum number of workplaces will receive natural light, the floor plans offer much appreciated flexibility for both large and small offices, the raised floor and the modular façade layout allow for a variety of functional reconfigurations with little construction work,” added Indrek Allmann.

The pyramid-shaped 3D parametric glass façade used in the part of the Elemental Business Centre connecting the two buildings has already attracted a lot of attention. Produced in Dubai in collaboration with Schüco and Elemental Business Centre is one of the first buildings in the world to use this parametric system.

GelvoraSergel and Aizdevums.lv, part of the Swedish financial holding company Marginalen AB, the IT companies Dynatech and Arvato Systems, CV Market (the Latvian branch of CV Keskus) and the Estonian IT company Primend have moved to the Elemental Business Centre. Rimi Mini grocery store has opened its doors and there will be Fiziocentrs offering physiotherapy services, catering and service space, conference facilities and Spaces, a 2,300 m² flexible office and co-working space.

Elemental Business Centre office buildings are characterised by outstanding architecture, modern technical solutions and a first-class indoor climate. The project is applying for BREEAM certification at Outstanding level, making it the first office building in Latvia to receive such a high rating. The energy-efficient roofs will cover more than 70% of the heating and cooling needs of the building and will significantly reduce tenants’ utility costs.

The Elemental Business Centre office buildings (elemental.lv/en/) are in the Skanste area, next to Arēna Rīga and Luminor’s Latvian headquarters. The two interconnected buildings offer 21 300 m² of Class A leasable space, a 400-space bicycle parking with shower and changing rooms. Together with the buildings, nearly 500 parking spaces were completed, including 200 spaces on the parking level under the buildings. The buildings were designed by Indrek Allmann, OÜ Pluss Arhitektid, and the general contractor was SIA Merks, part of the Merko Ehitus group.