One of the largest educational infrastructure projects in Vilnius in recent years is now moving into the construction phase. A new lower secondary school with sports, leisure, and community facilities will be built on Stasio Lozoraičio Street in Pavilnys. The project is being developed by Vilniaus vystymo kompanija, the capital’s public infrastructure development and management company, while Gilesta, selected through a public procurement process, will serve as the general contractor.
The development will create a more than 10,800 sq m complex on a site of almost 2.5 hectares. In addition to educational facilities, the project will include sports infrastructure, a swimming pool, an event hall, public spaces, and community-oriented amenities. The school is expected to accommodate approximately 912 students, with construction scheduled for completion within 18 months.
A School, Sports Center, and Community Hub in One Facility
The new school on Stasio Lozoraičio Street goes far beyond the scope of a traditional educational building. The project includes not only classrooms, but also two sports halls, a 25‑metre four‑lane swimming pool, a 300‑seat event hall, a library, amphitheatres, outdoor sports facilities, and community spaces.
According to Romas Paliulis, CEO of general contractor Gilesta, the project’s uniqueness lies not only in its size, but also in the concentration of very different functions within a single development.
“From a construction perspective, this is essentially several different facilities combined into one building. Educational spaces, sports infrastructure, the swimming pool, event hall, community areas, and the shelter included in the project all have entirely different technical requirements and operating conditions.
The shelter brings additional requirements related to safety, structural resilience, and engineering solutions, making precise coordination during the design phase particularly important. In some areas, acoustics and concentration are the priority; in others, resistance to intensive use, large spans, or highly specific engineering systems are key considerations.
Furthermore, the primary users will be children, making durability just as important as functionality. Materials and surfaces must withstand significantly greater daily wear than those used in typical office buildings. As a result, a considerable amount of work takes place before construction even begins, ensuring that structural, engineering, and architectural solutions are fully coordinated so the facility functions smoothly both during and after school hours.”
One of the most distinctive community-oriented features of the project is the 25‑metre four‑lane swimming pool, which was designed from the outset not only for educational purposes. According to the design, it will be available to both students and the local community.
Nearly Half of the Site Dedicated to Green Spaces and Public Areas
Almost half of the site will be allocated to green spaces. In addition to pedestrian pathways and sports infrastructure, the development will include amphitheatres, a terrace, recreation areas, and open spaces for community events. The project also aims to preserve part of the existing vegetation and adapt the design to the site’s natural terrain.
Lina Joffė, CEO of Vilniaus vystymo kompanija, says that the focus on green spaces and public areas is directly linked to the broader vision for Vilnius.
“In Vilnius, priority is given not to maximizing development density, but to quality of life, public spaces, and green infrastructure. This principle has been fundamental to the project from the very beginning.
The goal is for the site to become not a closed school campus, but a natural part of the neighbourhood that can be enjoyed by the local community. That is why significant attention has been devoted to preserving greenery, creating open spaces, encouraging pedestrian movement, and ensuring an overall sense of comfort throughout the area.”
According to the representative of the project’s general contractor, the extensive landscaping will require particularly careful planning.
“The project includes a large site featuring different surface materials, amphitheatres, sports infrastructure, recreational spaces, rainwater management solutions, and pedestrian connections. During construction, it will be essential to precisely plan site elevations, drainage systems, the routing of engineering networks, and the movement of construction equipment,” says R. Paliulis.
