Management visits MTEC construction site in Kaliningrad

During a two-day visit, the heads of the National Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Kaliningrad branch of the Tretyakov Gallery, as well as of Stroytransgaz, the General Contractor, inspected the construction progress of the future museum. The building is more than 70% complete.

The meeting was attended by Stroytransgaz CEO Dmitry Lebedev, Stroytransgaz Deputy CEO for Industrial and Civil Construction Alexey Povalyaev, STG-Zapad CEO Dmitry Rzhannikov, Head of National Cultural Heritage Foundation for Social and Cultural Projects Rinat Shigapov, Head of Kaliningrad Construction Office of the National Cultural Heritage Foundation Alexander Berest, and Director of the Tretyakov Gallery Kaliningrad Kamilya Baidildina.

Rinat Shigapov, President of the National Cultural Heritage Foundation, noted: "We can say we've reached the final stage and together with our General Contractor, Stroytransgaz, preparing for the handover of the museum. The building has a high degree of completion. Today we discussed all the issues requiring our contribution."

The meeting attendees toured the museum premises and the adjacent area, which landscaping has already been started by the builders. Presently, finishing of the interior spaces is continuing at the museum. The walls in almost all 14 exhibition halls with a total area of 4,400 square meters have been prepared for finishing. The entrance area is transforming: the 20-meter-long grand staircase is being covered with wooden panels and is beginning to look as intended. Installation of translucent structures – stained glass windows – along the perimeter of the building is nearing completion. Finishing of the building facade with brick tiles continues. Outdoor utility systems have been completed. A concrete base has been laid around the building for subsequent tile paving.

Kamilya Baidildina, Director of the Kaliningrad branch of the Tretyakov Gallery, shared information about preparing for the opening of the museum: "Already now, we are actively preparing for the opening. We are waiting for the builders to finish all the works, hand over the museum to us, and we will start a new life here. Almost every week meetings are held at the Tretyakov Gallery to discuss how the museum will evolve, what exhibitions we will open, and to develop a plan for the next three years. We could say that all the concepts are complete. The main thing is to commission the facility and begin operations."

Dmitry Lebedev, Stroytransgaz CEO, said: "Top quality materials are used for the construction. All the equipment is high end equipment from leading global and Russian producers. The branch of the Tretyakov Gallery will meet the current world standards, as well as modern trends in the development of museum spaces, which today are becoming a venue for creative innovation and cultural interaction, give impetus to the development of both the tourism industry and the creative industry of the city and the region".