Construction contract for Tallinn building of University of Tartu has been concluded

On 11 December, the University of Tartu and OÜ Vanalinna Ehitus signed the contract for the reconstruction, extension and furnishing of the Tallinn building of the University of Tartu. The building is expected to be completed in summer 2027 and will continue to be used by the UT School of Law.

The academic building on Kaarli puiestee in Tallinn has deteriorated over the years and is unsuited for teaching and studies, so it will soon be reconstructed and extended. The historic building will undergo a thorough renovation, creating a modern learning and working environment while preserving the distinctive architecture of the building. The volume of the construction and furnishing contract is €8.865 million excluding VAT.

The new and elegant academic building in Tallinn will contribute to the development of both the School of Law and the University of Tartu as a whole. The complete reconstruction of the building will enable us to provide modern, high-quality conditions for teaching and studying law, and maintain the university’s international competitiveness.

According to Andres Poom, the University of Tartu’s Specialist for Construction Procurement, the renovated building will meet the needs of the School of Law and support the university’s activities in Tallinn. “The design incorporates environmentally friendly energy and spatial solutions that ensure a pleasant indoor climate and low energy consumption. Modern and high-quality interior and exterior finishes create an inspiring, comfortable and user-oriented environment,” Poom explained. The new building will provide university staff and students with contemporary workspaces, study areas, and meeting rooms.

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The authors of the project “Kaskaad” are Lauri Eltermaa and Kristiina Aasvee from the architecture firm Kauss. The architectural solution combines heritage protection with modern technical and spatial solutions. The building will be reconstructed from its current four above-ground floors to six, with a net area of 3,419 m2. After renovation, the building’s energy efficiency will meet class A standards.

The building will continue to host the teaching and research activities of the University of Tartu School of Law. The University of Tartu Tallinn Office, which has so far operated in rented premises, will also find a permanent home in the building. From the autumn semester of 2025, teaching of the School of Law in Tallinn has taken place at Tõnismägi 5a (in the former premises of the Ministry of Education and Research).

The reconstruction of the university’s Tallinn building is funded by a loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank. The loan also helped renovate the building of the Institute of Cultural Research and will support the construction of the building complex at Maarjavälja. The new premises in the Maarjavälja building are planned for the staff and students of the University of Tartu Institute of Technology, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, the Institute of Pharmacy, and the Institute of Bioengineering. Read more on the university website.