OREANDA-NEWS. September 16, 2009. Next summer one of the leading financial institutions in Latvia – DnB NORD Banka - is going to move to a new, more spacious premises in 12 Skanstes Street, Riga, that will certainly be more suitable both for everyday business activities and the customer servicing. With sonorous songs and flying of well-wishing kites in the sky of Riga took place the ridgepole celebrations of the building, thus attesting to the fact that the bulk of work is already completed and the building gradually takes its intended shape, reported the press-centre of DnB NORD Banka.

Positioning the building as publicly active place in the future with friendly attitude towards the employees and visitors as well as stressing the role of DnB NORD Banka in various socially important processes during the Ridgepole celebrations their wishes of wellbeing to the Bank and its future home in the music expressed participants of the new TV show "Wars of choirs-2" - the choir of Riga led by the musician Jolanta Gulbe.

The President of DnB NORD Banka Andris Ozolins, addressing the guests of the Ridgepole celebrations, said: "We are satisfied about the fact that the new central administration building of DnB NORD Banka will be one of the most technologically advanced and state-of-the-art buildings in Riga, combining precious architecture and traits of energy-efficient office. What is of particular importance not only to the bank, but to the nationwide economy in the current economic situation is the fact that construction of this building provides with workplaces more than 600 builders who work on the construction site on day-to-day basis and other specialists involved in the works."

Architectural design of the building was developed by internationally renowned Lithuanian architect Audrius Ambrasas, to whom this was the very first project in the capital of Latvia, though in the years to come some more will follow. In turn, the contractor of the building is the company SIA "Merks" that has acquired considerable experience in implementation of various public building projects and lately has taken up the task to ensure well-balanced and fast-moving general development of the neighborhood of Skanstes Street. Ivars Geidans, Chairman of the Board of the company, pointed out that the construction of DnB NORD Banka building means crossing the street to commence its further development, as up to now main focus was put on the other side where are located buildings like Arena Riga, "Skanste heights" etc.  

"Construction of the Bank's new office building is a positive statement of successful cooperation of the principal, the architect and the builder in the course of two years, resulting in state-of-the-art building of high quality that represents top-level architecture. In the vicinity will be situated both offices and dwelling houses, thus turning this neighborhood into contemporary and regular environment with good architecture. In conjunction with DnB NORD Banka we are going to invest EUR 900 thousand in utilities, building of pavements and driveways," I. Geidans stresses the importance of the project.

It is expected to install in the new office building of DnB NORD Banka the building management system (BMS) that will allow flexible and centralized regulation and control over the interior temperature, security systems, lighting etc. To ensure the most suitable climate for the work regardless of the season outside it is planned to install special air-moisturizing, airing, and cooling systems as well as insert external automatic Venetian blinds. 

It is expected to complete the construction works on DnB NORD Banka new office building in the middle of next year and the Bank's administration and customer service officers are scheduled to move into it in the summer 2010.