Second Phase of Magdelēna Quarter Construction Completed

In May of this year, Vastint Latvia, the developer of the Magdelēna Quarter, completed the construction of the project’s second phase, with the buildings now successfully commissioned. As part of this phase, two office buildings were constructed at 17 and 21 Antonijas Street, offering a total of 10,000 m² of Class A office space and 1,200 m² of commercial premises. 

Magdelēna Quarter is currently the only new development in Riga’s Quiet Centre offering premium, high energy-efficiency office spaces. All available office areas in the building at 17 Antonijas Street will be leased by the IT company Atea Global Services. In addition to office space, 213 m² of commercial premises remain available in this building. 

Meanwhile, in the second building at 21 Antonijas Street, 550 m² has been allocated for restaurants. A Rimi Mini grocery store is set to open soon, and Vastint Latvia expects strong interest in the remaining office floors still available. 

The architect behind the second phase of the development, Pēteris Bajārs, lead architect at the OUTOFBOX office, shares that both buildings were designed to contribute meaningful value to the city’s urban landscape.  “We paid special attention to creating modern and inclusive architecture. The design of the second phase aims to further shield the residential buildings of the first phase from street traffic, thereby providing additional privacy for the residents. At the same time, we developed a spacious open area with a square between the residential and office buildings of Magdelēna Quarter. This links the surrounding streets and enhances pedestrian accessibility in this part of Riga’s city centre,” explains Bajārs. 

Mārcis Jankaitis, Project Manager for Magdelēna Quarter at Vastint Latvia, extends gratitude to all construction professionals involved, who carried out their work with great care and dedication. The successful implementation of this project would not have been possible without a highly skilled and goal-oriented team. Their expertise and determination made it possible to transform a concept into reality. The company commends SIA CONSIUS, the general contractor, whose professionalism and meticulous work laid the foundation for the project’s success. The contributions of the direct subcontractors were equally vital, with their engineering knowledge, resources, and experience ensuring the highest standards of quality were maintained throughout the construction process. The SIA OUTOFBOX team is also acknowledged for delivering not only exceptional architectural solutions, but also a detailed conceptual approach, technical design solutions, and seamless integration with the urban context, enhancing the buildings’ aesthetic quality and ensuring harmonious integration into the historical surroundings. An equally important role was played by SIA BLV ADVISORY GROUP, whose expertise and professional construction supervision ensured that all phases of the project were executed in full compliance with regulatory and technical standards.
“We are proud of what we have achieved – two modern office buildings will now stand in the heart of Riga’s historic centre, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. These buildings meet the highest sustainability and quality standards, while seamlessly blending into Riga’s historical urban environment. The next phase of Magdelēna Quarter’s development will continue to enhance the surrounding area and create an inviting public space for both visitors and residents,” emphasizes Mārcis Jankaitis.

The construction of the buildings was carried out in accordance with Vastint’s international excellence standards, meeting the requirements of LEED Platinum certification and nZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) regulations. This ensures minimal energy consumption and high operational efficiency. The buildings will operate entirely on 100% renewable electricity.

The offices will feature elegant interior designs, a wide range of modern amenities, and a thoughtfully landscaped outdoor environment – all located in the very heart of Riga’s Quiet Centre.

Romāns Astahovs, Managing Director of Vastint Latvia, comments on the completion and commissioning of the second phase of Magdelēna Quarter: “We are pleased to see that more and more of Latvia’s leading companies are relocating to modern office spaces, which in recent years have been designed and built according to significantly stricter standards than those of even five or ten years ago. There are still relatively few forward-looking projects like this in Riga. Magdelēna Quarter is being developed on one of the last large undeveloped plots in the prestigious and highly sought-after historic business district. Beyond the two newly completed office buildings, the quarter has space for just one more office building.” 

Magdelēna Quarter has already become a popular residential and meeting destination. Six years ago, the first phase of the project was completed, comprising 116 apartments and ground-floor commercial spaces facing a pedestrian passageway.

Construction is currently underway on the third phase, a rental building at 4C Strēlnieku Street. Upon completion, Magdelēna Quarter will offer a total of 273 apartments, 18,200 m² of office space, 4,400 m² of commercial space, and 238 parking spaces.  The urban development concept for the quarter was created by architect Gatis Didrihsons.

About Vastint Latvia SIA:

Vastint Latvia is one of the leading real estate developers in Latvia. Since 2003, the company has been managing its own property portfolio and developing new office, hotel, and residential real estate. Vastint Latvia is part of the Vastint Group — an international real estate organisation with over 35 years of experience across Europe. The projects already developed by Vastint Latvia include: the AC Hotel by Marriott Riga; the Zaļā 1 office building (in 2021, sold to the Swedish investment fund Eastnine AB); the FUTURIS residential building; and multifunctional project Magdelēnas kvartāls (first phase) in the Riga historical center, as well as office campus Business Garden Rīga (first phase) and residential project Lindenholma (first phase) on the border of Riga and Mārupe. At the same time, the development of the concept for the 19-hectare large property Ezerparks in Čiekurkalns continues. More information at https://vastint.eu/lv/