“Sudoku” is the winner of architectural competition for University of Tartu’s new academic and research building
On 8 December, in UT Library, the competition jury opened the sealed envelopes with names of the authors of the winning designs for an academic and research building on the Maarjamõisa field. From the ten entries submitted to the competition, the architectural solution “Sudoku” by Kauss Arhitektuur OÜ and Väli OÜ was announced as the winner.
According to the chair of the jury Kstina Noormets, Director of Administration at the University of Tartu, the jury was unanimous in choosing the winning entry, as it stood out among other works for its well-thought-out solutions and clear and compact presentation. The university invites the winning author to take part in a negotiated procurement procedure without announcing a notice. “We have planned up to two years (2024–2025) for designing the academic and research building and intend to start the construction works in 2026. The estimated cost of the whole project will be €60 million which we have included in the university's investment budget. However, we will know the exact amount after the end of the design process,” Noormets explained. The estimated cost of designing the winning project is €3.19 million excluding VAT.
Authors of the entry are architects and interior architects of Kauss Arhitektuur OÜ: Kristiina Aasvee, Lauri Eltermaa, Teele Kapsta, Hanna Riin Kink, Anna-Grete Konsap, Allan Pilter, Elise Roos, Sander Joosep Siigur, Kaur Talpsep and Sten Vendik; and landscape architects of Väli OÜ: Kristian Nigul, Kadi Nigul, Kadri Uusen and Katariina Lepiku.
The authors of the winning entry “Sudoku” will be awarded €16,000, the authors of the runner-up “Vöönd” (Zone) will get €12,000, and the winner of the third place “TÜ loodus” (UT Nature) €8,000. Based on the jury’s recommendation, an incentive award of €4,000 is granted for the entry called “Asterisk” for being distinctive and creating positive emotions.
The goal of the architectural competition was to find a design for the construction of an academic and research building and the landscaping of the surrounding area on the Maarjamõisa field. The new building at Maarjavälja will house the university’s Institute of Technology, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, the Institute of Pharmacy, and the Institute of Bioengineering which starts operation as of 1 January 2024.
The competition jury comprised Director of Administration Kstina Noormets, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Leho Ainsaar, chartered architects of the Estonian Association of Architects Tõnis Arjus, Tiit Sild and Jüri Siim, and the Lead Architect of the Architecture Service of Tartu City Government Ivo-Sven Riet. In addition, Aire Priks, Head of the Detailed Plan Service of the Department of Urban Planning, Land Survey and Use of Tartu City Government, and Viljo Vider, Head of Institutional Development Service of the Estates Office at the University of Tartu, were included in the jury as experts.
Representatives of the future users of the building – Director of the Institute of Technology Reet Kurg, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology Ilona Faustova, Associate Professor in Molecular Biology Aivar Liiv, and Head of the Institute of Pharmacy Karin Kogermann – who were involved in the jury as experts after the submission of entries, also presented their opinion on the entries.
An exhibition displaying all the ten entries to the architectural competition will be open on the ground floor of the University of Tartu Library until the end of January.
Second prize “Vöönd” (Zone)
The work was submitted on behalf of Salto Architects by Ralf Lõoke, Maarja Kask, Martin McLean and Helina Lass.
Third prize “TÜ loodus” (UT nature)
The work was submitted by Ove Oot, an architect from Apex Architects, Marine Manchon of MAMA Designs, Pedro Arroyo Garcia from Walk., and Hilda Guadalupe Aguirre Leon.
Incentive award “Asterisk”
This entry was submitted on behalf of Kadarik Tüür Architects by Ott Kadarik, Mihkel Tüür, Mihkel Raev, Kaarel Künnap, Indrek Rünkla, Aleksei Petrov, Aleksandr Špakov, Mats Põllumaa and Linda Li Arro.
More on the same topic:
- Ten entries were submitted to architectural competition for the University of Tartu’s new academic and research building, 20 October 2023
- University announced architectural competition for future academic and research building, 1 August 2023
