A press tour of the cultural and educational cluster on Oktyabrsky Island held in Kaliningrad

The final construction phase of the educational complex as part of a cultural cluster in Kaliningrad on Oktyabrsky Island is underway. The project presentation was attended by federal and local media, representatives of the regional government, residents of the complex and management of the general contractor. The cultural and educational complex is being built by Stroytransgaz Group at the request of Social and Cultural Projects Fund “National Cultural Heritage”.

The task to create four new cultural centres (Vladivostok, Kemerovo, South of Russia, Kaliningrad) was set by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in his Address to the Federal Assembly in 2018 and specified in the Executive Order on National Goals and Strategic Objectives of Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2024.

Vladimir Putin said, "Such large social and educational centers must be accessible to people of all ages, both older and younger generations and meet their interests and needs. In this regard, it is very important, of course, to keep young people, the youth, in mind as well. Cultural centers should include concert halls, museum and exhibition spaces, combine branches of our leading theaters, museums and creative universities on one site."

The final construction phase of the educational part of the cluster includes:

• Academic building of Choreographic Academy (branch of Moscow State Academy of Choreography) for 150 students, including a concert hall and boarding school for 150 students
• Academic building of the Special School of Music (branch of the Central Music School at the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky) for 150 students, including a concert hall and boarding school for 75 students
• Comprehensive school for 550 students, including a swimming pool
• Campus for 150 university students (branch of the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts)
• Accommodations for employees of the complex

Oktyabrsky Island will also host:

• A university (branch of the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts)
• Accommodations for students and employees of the complex
• Museum complex (branch of the State State Tretyakov Gallery)
• Opera and Ballet Theatre (branch of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre)

The cultural and educational complex provides a comfortable environment for children to ensure the top-level educational process.

A.I. Fedorov, General Director of STG-Zapad LLC: "All approved design solutions are implemented by Stroytransgaz Group in accordance with the positive opinion issued by Glavgosexpertiza for the design documentation; the pile field and reinforced concrete frames for buildings are critical structures as indicated by the State Architectural and Construction Supervision Committee."

The cluster has an elaborate infrastructure. The buildings are interconnected by winterized passages. Students can move around the entire educational complex without going outside.

Comprehensive school has a spacious lounge. The entrance lobby reflects the concept of the institution's interiors providing for the use of high-quality natural materials with interesting subtle accents. The interior is comfortable and does not distract students from studies, it helps to focus on gaining new knowledge.

The gym is simple and functional. The flooring can bear increased loads and is highly durable.

The interior decoration of the educational theater and the ballet hall in the branch of the Moscow State Choreographic Academy for young ballet dancers includes special shields installed on shock-absorbing blocks with a special ballet linoleum on top. It has high energy- and shock-absorbing characteristics allowing students to relieve the load on their musculoskeletal system and reduce the risk of damage to their ligaments without losing balance during movement. Interbeam spaces of the ceiling are filled with acoustic panels to create the right audio environment and the sound of live music. The doors have improved sound insulation so that nothing distracts students from classes.

Students of the music school and the Choreographic Academy will have video equipment allowing to make professional TV footage, exchange high-definition content with teachers and other branches.

Each building will have classrooms equipped with a media complex. In addition to PTZ cameras, loudspeakers and microphones, these rooms are equipped with interactive touch panels. For example, debriefings may be held in in ballrooms by freezing and taking notes on the screen.

Stage mechanical equipment is being installed in concert halls of the Central Music School and Moscow State Choreographic Academy, including twelve 14-meter-high flying bars, five 12.5- and 9.5-meter-high lighting hoists. All mechanisms are designed individually for this project and have safety braking systems to reliably protect from falling. 

In addition, the Choreographic Academy will have a 15-meter-long front curtain and an electric lifting system for all elements allowing to change the stage design within a few minutes.

The concert halls of the two buildings will also have stage lighting, including more than 100 lighting devices for various purposes, a control panel and a smoke generator to correctly illuminate any event from a lecture to a concert.

Special acoustic panels are used in the design of concert halls. They will eliminate the flutter echo effect, when an amplified sound repeatedly reflected from the walls makes it feel as if it comes from several points at once. A special perforation absorbs sound vibrations at different frequencies.

All equipment is professional and allows to meet high-profile guests.

Boarding schools at branches of the Central Music School and Moscow State Choreographic Academy are intended for talented students from other cities. They will have comfortable living conditions; the blocks are divided into two sections with a common corridor, bathroom and cloak room. The student lounges will be monitored by duty specialists on a 24/7 basis. Un addition, there are rooms for self-training and a medical center.

In accordance with general requirements the complex rooms have an environment accessible for low mobility citizens: ramps, lifts for wheelchairs, specially equipped residential rooms for living with an attendant were built, a provision is made for the tactile indicators.

The educational infrastructure of the Complex will also include the Baltics Higher School of Musical and Theatrical Arts (a branch of the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts with a functional division, School of Creative Industries), residential building for teachers and families of the youngest students from other cities and a hostel for students.

I.A. Barinov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Kaliningrad Region: "The schools and universities on Oktyabrsky Island will have all conditions required for affordable and high-quality vocational training of young talents, who will become the new cultural and creative capital of this region. The cultural and educational complex has a particular economic and social importance not only for our region, but also for the entire country. The project is also important for the development of international cultural cooperation."

According to the Russian President, creation of the cultural, educational and museum complexes will allow the regions to reveal their cultural and educational opportunities, arrange modern cultural space in the entire territory of Russia, change life quality of the residents through art introduction and, at the same time, make these cities particularly attractive for tourists.