The Tumo Center for Creative Technologies aims to make available creative technology trainings for as many young people in Armenia as possible, so that anyone who is fond of learning can attend the nearest Tumo center. Very soon some new centers will open in Koghb, Masis and Gyumri. Head of Tumo Communication Division Lilit Tovmasyan reveals the main requirements that Tumo staff presents to the architects cooperating with the company, «It is very important for us, that the area reflects all 4 components of the Tumo educational model: transparency, selectiveness, flexibility, availability. The building should have very large corridors and halls, high ceilings. The classrooms in Tumo centers are mostly glazed, so that the young people while learning could see what their friends are doing in another classroom. And if they are still self-studying, they will see that other young people taking part in the training, and they will become motivated. » The famous Lebanese architect Bernard Khoury is the one who best understands Tumo's requirements and mission. He is well-known for his modernistic projects and the rich experience in reconstruction of historic buildings. He designed the interior of the very first building of Tumo Yerevan in 2011. And now the centers in Koghb, Masis and Gyumri are being built. As Bernard Khoury said in one of his interviews, «We do not follow the recognizable aesthetic. Tumo is first of all an idea, a spirit that should be kept wherever we move, regardless of building or location. » Tumo center in village Koghb in Tavush province is for 600-1000 people. The young people will be able to attend the center from Koghb, Noyemberyan, Berdavan and other nearby settlements. The center will have hi-tech classrooms, training stations, recording studio, cinema and a large stadium. The Tumo center in Masis is designed for 1000 people. It will be located near the North-South highway for convenience of teenagers arriving from Armavir province. The third building that is being built (or better to say, reconstructed) by Bernard Khoury’s design, is the building of the first theater in Gyumri. This exceptional building-monument included in «Kumayri» historical and cultural reserve is in emergency state and needs serious reconstruction. Tumo in Gyumri now functions in Technopark, but as soon as the building is ready, it will move to new location. The construction of engineering and applied sciences complex in collaboration with European Union and Tumo will start in spring 2020 and is planned to complete the next 2-3 years. 15.000 m2 area adjacent to Tumo was allocated for the new building in Yerevan, and there it is planned to build a 25,000 square meter complex (total). An international tender has been announced for the architectural design of the future complex. The jury is led by Hashim Sarkis, the Dean of the Architecture and Design Department at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Coordinator of the Venice Biennale in 2020. Three giants of architecture have already been selected: RCR Arquitectes, BIG and MVRDV. One of them will be selected in September and will design the EU Tumo complex.

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.