An Engineering and Applied Science Facility will be built in Tumanyan Park, home to the Yerevan Tumo Center for Creative Technologies. The complex, co-financed by the European Union and worth 25 million euros, was first announced in 2019. The new Tumo Complex will become the STEM ecosystem in Yerevan (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Among 67 architectural companies from 24 countries participating in the design competition, the Netherlands-based MVRDV architectural studio was selected as the winner. According to the jury, TUMO chose MVRDV's design "because, as a firm, it created a hub for collaboration and also demonstrated a deep understanding of the center's programs and vision, in addition to the urban context in which the site is located". MVRDV presented it as a horizontal skyscraper (MVRDV's project name is EU TUMO Convergence Center). It will be a 6-story and 200 meters long building on the edge of Hrazdan river gorge. The designers describe their project as "A monolithic rectilinear bar cantilevers over steep slopes on each end. Large windows at each end direct views toward the Hrazdan river gorge to the north and Mount Ararat (the biblical resting place of Noah's Ark) to the south. Inside, the structure forms a large, hangar-like space with its landscape of lightweight modular boxes housing most of the building's program. A translucent polycarbonate façade helps to light the large space, and gives the building a gentle glow at night." The center will have three complementary components: educational and research programs, conference and exhibition halls, and work and commercial spaces. It will also have conference halls, event platforms, coworking, and study spaces for both individuals and organizations. Cafes, restaurants, gyms, shops, and other commercial areas will operate on the first floor. The construction of the complex is expected to start this year.
Soon the new building of the Tumo Center for Creative Technologies will open its doors in Gyumri. The center will be located in a 150-year-old theater building, which is one of the oldest theaters of Eastern Armenia. During its two-year activity in Gyumri, Tumo already has more than 2,000 students. The implementation of this project will increase the number of students almost twice. The author of the reconstruction is the famous Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury. The building will be three-story with a total area of 2500 sq. meters. As well as the main Tumo Center the new one will include the same four main areas of study: animation, video game development, digital media and web development. The center also will have a laboratory for 3D printing. The project provides two entrances. The main entrance from the eastern facade, located at the lower level of the park, is designed for students. All those areas that are not related to students, such as administration, public areas, the main lobby, is available from the upper street along the western facade. The main goal of the project is to turn the old theater into interactive training platforms with the main collective working area designed as a continuous audience, which during the weekends and vacations will be transformed into alternative theater with 200 seats. The main educational areas located on the ground floor. In addition to training areas, the center will also have a recording Studio, a public cinema where screenings will be organized both for Tumo students and the public, an outdoor terrace for events, as well as transforming platform that will also serve as a stage for the theater. The planned terrace, in turn, creates a link between the building and the park, integrating the exterior into the building volume. The project saves only the eastern and western facades of the building, recovering the existing white plaster. The new approved facades and additions to be performed in bright red color, which will create a contrast with old architectural monument. In addition to the reconstruction of the theater, the project also includes the improvement of the neighboring park.
The three-wing building of COAF SMART Center was built in the picturesque nature between Debet and Dsegh villages of Lori Province, with funding from the Children of Armenia Foundation (COAF). This impressive structure with its transparent architecture penetrated into a nature is unique for Armenia. The architect is the Lebanese Armenian Paul Kalustian. The COAF SMART Center with floor area 2230 square meters is mainly glazed which is especially important for rural children to be all time connected with nature and always feel freedom. The Center’s goal is to offer alternative education to residents of Lori Province without any age limits. The innovative wing of the training center will consist of robotics room, an art center, a medical education room which will have all the necessary equipment for the first medical aid. The digital library will provide an opportunity to use mainly e-books, although there will also be printed options. The center will also have a computer room teaching coding, programming, graphic design and animation technics. There will also be English language programs for both children and adults. Various educational programs in the field of agriculture and entrepreneurship are planned mainly for adults. There will be a dance and art studios with all necessary equipment and furniture and locker rooms for children on the underground floor. The building meets all requirements of people with disabilities. According to the project, the construction works will continue on adjacent territory, because the final goal is to build the COAFSMART village, which will cover an area more than 80,000 square meters. The village will be a dynamically developing and growing project with many additional facilities for sports, housing and camping. An accommodation for invited experts was also built, but the main staff will be recruited from local region organizing various supporting training courses for them. The construction of the center COAF SMART, which started in 2015, has been fully completed. Now the building is in the phase of furnishing. The official opening of the educational center is planned in May, 2018.
