On Friday, April 12, the Mūkusalas Business Centre hosted the grand opening of the new class-A office building, ZEISS OFFICES, according to the project’s official website. Located at Dēļu iela 2, the building is part of MŪKU SALA—a modern office district that has seen significant development in recent years around Mūkusalas Street.
The opening event was attended by representatives of the project developer, tenants of the office building, and members of the Būvuzraugi LV (BLV Advisory Group) team—a key partner and participant in the ZEISS OFFICES project.
The event embraced the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, with a Great Gatsby-themed celebration, paying homage to the history of the site where ZEISS OFFICES now stands. Guests enjoyed dishes prepared by Lauris Aleksejevs, the chef of the restaurant “36.līnija”, and the musical ambiance was provided by Linda Samsonova from Radio 5 and the band Very Cool People, featuring singer Paula Saija.
Construction of the ZEISS OFFICES building began in 2021, but the project’s planning spanned several years prior. The inspiration of the building came from the former Carl Zeiss optical factory, once the first reinforced concrete building in Riga, which stood at the same location.
Although the original factory building could not be preserved, the facade of ZEISS OFFICES, designed by Aleksandrs Čepiguss from DUAL Arhitekti, reflects the historical architecture. The construction was carried out by “Velve” Ltd., with an overall investment of around ten million euros. Project management, technical supervision, and several other services were provided by the BLV Advisory Group team:
”The ZEISS OFFICES project was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our multifaceted expertise and comprehensive approach,” shared Sergejs Frolovs, head of BLV Advisory Group. “The client utilized our full range of services: from conducting the tender for the general contractor and project management to overseeing bank financing and technical supervision.
Sergejs FrolovsCEO and founder of BLV advisory group
This allowed us not only to fully meet the client's needs but also to demonstrate how our integrated solutions can significantly enhance planning efficiency and project quality, especially in challenging conditions.
”I have always believed that every building has a soul. When a building is constructed, the builders and developers imbue it with thoughts about what it will be like in 100 or 200 years, who will live there, and what will happen to it. We managed to infuse the ZEISS OFFICES building with our own soul—we filled it with people, spirit, energy, and events. I want to thank our wonderful team, who are developing the entire MŪKU SALA district, as well as our clients, who believed in us and are growing alongside us
Iveta BahmaneChairwoman of the Board of Mūkusalas Business Centre
”This building is not just a structure of concrete and glass; it represents our ambitions, goals, and self-development. The Mūkusalas Business Centre team has worked for over 20 years to bring this project to life. We are building not just walls but an environment where we realize our ambitions and goals together with our clients
Klāvs Vasks Co-owner of Mūkusalas Business Centre
The highlight of the event was the presentation of an art piece by sculptor Ginters Krumholcs titled “Rebirth.” The sculpture will be displayed in the ZEISS OFFICES building, where all visitors can appreciate it.
Special guests at the opening included Jānis Lucaus, Chairman of the Board of the insurance company “Balcia Insurance”, and Agris Bitāns, partner at the law firm “Eversheds Sutherland Bitāns,” who are referred to as the “godfathers of the building”. By participating in a charity auction organized by the gallery and auction house Birkenfelds, both Lucaus and Bitāns left their messages in a time capsule embedded in the foundation of the ZEISS OFFICES building.
”Riga is fortunate to have such talented entrepreneurs who can create not only ideas but also bring them to life. This project is a clear example that buildings developed with a genuine investment of heart and soul are vastly different from those built merely for profit. Walking into ZEISS OFFICES, you immediately feel the importance of quality.
Jānis Lucaus
ZEISS OFFICES welcomed its first tenants at the end of 2023. Currently, it houses offices of companies such as DELFI, Helmes Latvia, ABB, Konica Minolta Baltia, Grenardi Group, Bolt, and Altum, whose central regional office is now also in this class-A office building. Of the building’s total leasable area of 5600 square metres, nearly 90% was leased out even before the building was commissioned.
According to Anita Pokrovska, head of the marketing agency MATCH, this success is largely due to the professional community that has formed around the MŪKU SALA brand in recent years.
”Our closed survey among tenants revealed that, besides the convenience of the location and developed infrastructure, a significant advantage of MŪKU SALA as a business district is its proximity to market leaders like Tele2, Delfi, Bolt, Cognizant, and others. Our environment largely defines us, which is why MŪKU SALA is built on a strong, dynamic, supportive, and motivating community of professionals that we have developed and strengthened over the years.
Anita Pokrovska
Нас действительно во многом определяет наше окружение, именно поэтому в основе MŪKU SALA — сильное, динамичное, поддерживающее и мотивирующее сообщество профессионалов, которое нам удалось развить и укрепить за годы совместной работы.
The ZEISS OFFICES building is certified according to the BREEAM Excellent sustainability standards, featuring energy-efficient class-A ventilation, air conditioning, and heating systems, as well as sustainable and eco-friendly finishing materials.
The Mūkusalas Business Centre district houses offices of companies such as Tele2, Hilti Services Limited, Delfi, Cognizant, Coffee Address, Sodra Forest Latvia, Civinity, and others. At the end of 2021, the Mūkusalas Street area unified under the single brand MŪKU SALA, which includes the Mūkusalas Business Centre complex and its projects, including the new class-A office building ZEISS OFFICES.
