Henrikas Šepetys
Author
2026-05-14 13:24 • 4 min read
The Vilnius City Municipality has issued a building permit for the reconstruction of the primary education branch of the Vilnius Duke Gediminas Progymnasium (a school for grades 1–8) located on Blindžių Street. The project will transform a 60-year-old building in the Žvėrynas district—one of the city’s greenest and most prestigious residential areas—into a modern educational facility.
The project, managed by the Vilnius Development Company (Vilniaus vystymo kompanija), involves a significant expansion of the existing infrastructure. The total area of the school will increase more than threefold, from 1,700 square meters to over 5,800 square meters. This expansion allows the student capacity to grow from 235 to 384.
Parameter
Data After Reconstruction
Total Area
> 5,800 sq. m
Number of Classrooms
16
Student Capacity
384
Energy Efficiency Class
A++
Green Space on Plot
Over 40%
Planned Completion
2028
“We are consistently investing in educational infrastructure across the city to ensure every school in Vilnius meets the highest quality standards,” said Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas. “The Blindžių Street project will be a prime example of creating a safe, cozy, and modern environment that respects the unique urban and natural context of Žvėrynas.”
Designed by the firm Atamis, the new school will consist of five interconnected blocks. The layout is intended to avoid a massive appearance, instead blending harmoniously with the surrounding trees. The facility will include bright classrooms, administrative offices, a library, an event hall, and a universal sports hall with changing rooms.
A major focus is placed on technological education. The third floor will house “FabLab” and “ArtLab” workshops, alongside dedicated rooms for arts and technology. Vice-mayor Vytautas Mitalas noted that these investments are essential to bring older buildings up to modern educational standards.
The building is designed to meet the A++ energy efficiency class and will feature a solar collector system on the roof to generate local electricity. The entire site will be fully accessible for people with mobility disabilities, including elevators, lifts, and tactile surfaces for the visually impaired.
Safety measures include video surveillance, access control, and security alarms. Notably, the underground portion of the building will feature a modern civil defense shelter, a standard now being integrated into new public infrastructure in the region.
Despite the tripling of the building’s size, over 40% of the plot (approximately 4,800 sq. m) will remain dedicated to green spaces, including lawns, shrubs, and flower beds. While 10 trees must be removed due to the construction footprint, an equal number of new trees will be planted upon completion. The remaining territory will be used for outdoor classrooms, sports fields, and playgrounds.
The project also includes local infrastructure upgrades. A section of Blindžių Street from Birutės to Latgalių Street will be renovated with new sidewalks and updated water supply networks. Twenty-one parking spaces will be added for parents dropping off students.
A public tender for a contractor is scheduled for May, with construction expected to begin later this year. During the works, which are slated for completion in 2028, students from the Blindžių branch will temporarily attend classes at the school’s other branch located on Žvejų Street.
When will the school reconstruction be finished?
The reconstruction of the school on Blindžių Street is expected to be completed in 2028.
Where will students study during the construction?
Students from the Blindžių branch will temporarily attend classes at the Duke Gediminas Progymnasium branch located on Žvejų Street.
What new facilities will the school have?
The school will feature 16 classrooms, a library, an event hall, a universal sports hall, specialized FabLab and ArtLab workshops, and an underground civil defense shelter.
Valdas BenkunskasVytautas MitalasInga LiutkevičiūtėValdas Šablevičius