In February 2016 the construction of new educational and sports complex began in administrative district Avan on Tsarav Aghbyur street in Yerevan. This project is developed by Gazprom Armenia within the framework of the large-scale project “Gazprom to Children”. The complex is located next to the area built as part of the social project “Affordable Housing for Young Specialists”, and is designed to provide educational and sports occupation for children of this area. The complex will have a kindergarten, a school, an indoor ice-skating rink and a fitness center with its buildings and infrastructures. The project, designed by Yerevanproject CJSC, won the first two prizes in the nominations "The Best Project for a Multifunctional Complex" and "The Best Project for an Educational Building" in the tender, which was announced in 2016 by National Association of Surveyors and Designers of Russia (NOPRIZ). The common entrance to the educational and sports complex starts from the street opposite the Botanical Garden, in the upper part of which there is a boulevard. The first from the left is the building of the indoor ice rink. The total area of the three-story building is 6241 square meters. The core of the building is the hall with artificial ice, designed for 350 seats. Its size is 42x66 m, for the ice arena it is 30x60 m. The fitness center consists of universal stadium with 440 seats and separate sport halls. The building has also an underground parking for 74 cars (2594 square meters). The education center of the complex is intended for 700 students. The school is three-four story building with total area 12,457 square meters. The project envisages two different buildings to divide the student flows of different age groups. The secondary school building is for 150 students, the primary school building is for 550 pupils. The school will have an indoor pool (12,5x25 m) and an open area for summer activities, which can serve as a field for futsal. 2-3 story kindergarten with floor area 3622 square meters intended to serve 190 children divided into 8 groups. The flat roof of the kindergarten will be used as a playground. The kindergarten will also have a small 0,6-0,8m deep swimming pool (6x3 m), locker rooms, a coach room and a first-aid post. The interior design was done by Storaket architectural studio. The buildings of the complex are equipped with wheelchair ramps, elevators, bathrooms and wardrobes for people with disabilities. Currently, the works on interior decoration and improvement of the boulevard are going on and will be completed this spring.

What was changed in memorable “velvet revolution 2018” year in the construction life of Armenia? What was created or built? What urban problems were solved? Armenian Chamber of Architects Established Mkrtich Minasyan, the Chairman of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Armenia: It was a long-awaited event that finally became a reality. Our Chamber is a self-governing body, we have our own laws, which will henceforth protect the activities of architects, determine the norms of architectural ethics. Unpleasant situations, that used to prevail in the relationship between the architects and the developers, will be excluded, like situations, when the developers dictate their tastes and wishes to architects, and in the course of the construction works the entire idea of the architect is being violated. Often the architects used to disclaim their own projects, because they did not want their names to be associated with the ugly buildings, distorting their initial idea. From now on, the license on architectural activity will be issued by qualified commissions, consisting of specialists. About 50 licenses are already prepared and soon will be solemnly provided. Grigor Azizyan, the Director of Armproject company: From now on, the Armenian Chamber of Architects will unite architects and civil-engineers. We will hand activity licenses taking into account their experience and completed projects. We have to be consistent and not repeat the same mistakes as was done by Licensing Committee. The Tasks on Protection of Cultural and Historical Monuments Are Revised Sirekan Ohanyan, the Director of Yerevanproject company: The year 2018 was special, because our country started to discuss the issue of inclusion of the Historical and Cultural Monuments Protection Agency (within the Ministry of Culture) into the structure of Urban Planning Committee. Immovable monuments are urban units, and the tasks of their protection, operation, restoration and reconstruction are elements of urban planning activities. It is the architects and urban planners represented by the Urban Planning Committee who are called upon to work on the restoration and preservation of the cultural and historical environment. Mkrtich Minasyan: In 2018, seven buildings were included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments (the old building of Zvartnots airport, Russia cinema, the summer hall of Moscow cinema, Hrazdan stadium, underground stations Republic Square and Yeritasardakan, Cafesjian Center for The Arts). We have long fought for it and finally the decision was made. So far, we have not begun the work on strengthening and restoration of these monuments, but an important step was taken, and, I hope, it will be continued. Micro-regional Urban Planning Documents Were Prepared for Syunik and Ararat Provinces Grigor Azizyan: I would highlight the development of micro-regional urban planning documents as major work carried out in 2018. In 2017 we completed the work for Tavush province, most of Syunik and Ararat provinces. The rest was done by other companies. This work will be continued. Master plans of rural settlements are created with emphasis on their economic relations, further development opportunities and the places where you can implement these or other investment projects. Sirekan Ohanyan: One of the major projects in 2018 was a micro-regional design of 30 settlements in Masis region of Ararat province ordered by the Urban Planning Committee. With the help of these documents we identify the opportunities for our villages, the prospects for their development, outline and evaluate new areas and chances in terms of investment. What Was Built ? Sirekan Ohanyan: In the beginning of 2018 we have completed the work begun in the previous year on the project for improvement and landscaping of Jermuk town. The project covers the improvement of neighborhoods, streets, sidewalks, roof repair of 24 houses, modernization of the frontal part of the houses on Shahumyan street, reconstruction of the city park, etc. The construction work continues in accordance with the project. The construction of an educational and sports complex in Avan is almost completed, only landscaping left to be done. The complex will include figure skating sports school, fitness center, school and kindergarden. In 2018 two parks have been landscaped: 1) the park in the area between Mashtots Avenue and Saryan Street, 2) the park in Komitas pantheon In the park adjacent to Mashtots Avenue, a “dry” or pedestrian fountain with color-sound design was built. Mkrtich Minasyan: In 2018 two large projects were put into operation: 1) the medical center in Vanadzor and 2) the Business Center Kamar on Shahumyan Square in Yerevan. We have a great architectural potential, which will be more productive with the help of the Chamber. Grigor Azizyan: In 2018 Armproject carried out the project for the construction of the Yerevan branch of Kempinski Hotels chain. The hotel is being built on Charles Aznavour square next to Stanislavsky Russian Drama Theater. Another major project is also associated with a well-known hotel brand: on the area adjacent to Republic street, next to Erebuni Business Center, a Park Inn hotel is being built. Thereby Revolutionary 2018 was a turning point in the political life of Armenia. Hopefully 2019 will bring many opportunities for construction industry new investments and projects.

The year 2018 was full of events not only in the political and legislative sphere, but also in the field of urban planning. The city of Yerevan celebrated its 2800th anniversary, as well as the appointment of Arthur Meschian to the post of the chief architect. Arthur Meschian is well-known not only for his songs, but also for his rich architectural activities. We all know, that our capital has many construction and architectural problems. Then which one is priority? This question was addressed to the chief architect of Yerevan, ''Construction technology with the help of which today we build residential complexes, is the technology of 50-60-s. Monolithic frames, rebars, all these are vestiges of the past. The only opportunity to start large-scale housing construction in Yerevan is the use of house-building factories, i.e. prefabricated modules of sandwich residential buildings, with the help of which you can quickly assemble a whole residential complex within a year. And the cost of using this technology is cheaper compared to the monolithic structure''. This approach will help to solve in a short time the problems of housing fund and employment, which in its turn will lead to economical growth and will reduce the immigration. It's no secret that the city center needs to be unloaded. How does the chief architect see the solution to this problem? ''It is a very good question! We must start construction projects outside the city center ․․․ And such a tendency seems to be already there, people are already beginning to understand that the city center is overloaded, there is no more room'',- explained Arthur Meschian. Hopefully the newly appointed chief architect, approving new projects, will take into account that the number of floors must be appropriate for the area and for the general panorama of the city. The fact that the capital is losing its image due to the demolition and painting of historical buildings was also noted by Arthur Meschian. '' While I am the chief architect of the capital, no any monument could be demolished here ․․․ Developers who purchase a certain piece of land on which a monument is located will be required to finance the restoration works of that building '', - assured Artur Meschyan.