REPUBLISHED

Towers, offices and a new stadium: government gives private investors 8 public properties

Erblin Vukaj · Originally published: 13 January 2025

On Thursday, the government presented eight projects on public land that it aims to develop with private investors in Tirana. They envisage towers, government offices and a new stadium.

The presentation was titled “Bridges Towards Albania 2030.” It is part of the campaign to develop 28 public properties transferred to the administration of the Albanian Investment Corporation, on which Citizens.al has previously reported.

The eight projects presented:

1. “Lift Tower” – Muhamet Gjollesha Street
Architects: Baukuh, Muoto, Sam Chermayeff, Yellow Office, Atmos Lab, Bollinger Grohmann, Simoj Boudvin, Arkimade

A 39-storey tower with mixed uses for student accommodation, offices, a hotel and housing. It is planned for the approximately 2,350-square-metre site of the former Construction Institute, beside the Faculty of Engineering.

The Property Treatment Agency (ATP) currently has its offices there. The government proposes giving the site to a private developer on condition that it expands the Tirana Cadastre building beside the Harry T. Fultz school.

The investor competition opened on 20 November. The deadline for offers was extended from 6 January to 20 January. Investors must be financially stable and guarantee a financing flow of 8.5 million euros.

2. “Civic Land Center” – Panorama Street
Architects: Baukuh, Muoto, Sam Chermayeff, Yellow Office, Atmos Lab, Bollinger Grohmann, Simoj Boudvin, Arkimade

The project is linked to, and depends on, the development of Lift Tower, explained above. It reimagines the 6-storey building of the State Cadastre Agency’s (ASHK) Tirana Local Directorate “beneath a giant shed”. The ATP and the State Expropriation Agency (AShSh) are also expected to move their offices there.

Three blocks of 8, 9 and 10 storeys are added to the building, planned for offices, archives and recreation spaces.

According to the corporation, around 1800 public administration employees would benefit from this proposed development of premises.

3. “Tirana Void Tower” – Zhan D’Ark Boulevard
Architects: Coldefy, Atelier 4, Semper Virens, Jacopo Foggini, AEI

A complex of 3 towers of 25 storeys beside the Lana River, on the former site of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATSH). The Educational Services Centre currently has its offices there.

The corporation plans to give a private developer 2,840 square metres of land at the former ATSH site and the development design. In exchange, the developer must build the government complex in the Komuna e Parisit neighbourhood. Around 51 thousand square metres of construction are envisaged, with an estimated capital return of around 60 million euros.

The investor competition opened on 20 November. The deadline for offers was extended from 6 January to 20 January. Investors must be financially stable and guarantee a financing flow of 10 million euros.

4. “Public Administration Cluster” – Komuna e Parisit
Architects: Coldefy, Atelier 4, Semper Virens, Jacopo Foggini, AEI

A government complex in the Komuna e Parisit neighbourhood. It brings together 22 institutions under the Prime Minister’s Office and the ministries of Infrastructure, Education, Tourism and Environment. It would provide around 34 thousand square metres of floor space.

The project envisages demolishing the block of buildings currently housing the Civil Aviation Authority. The site lies between apartment buildings and is bounded by Sulejman Delvina, Medar Shtylla, Osman Myderizi and Grigor Heba streets.

The site is redesigned with 17 platforms of 2 to 8 storeys. They are enveloped by a grid-like facade with terraces and public spaces. Construction is conditional on and depends on the development of Tirana Void Tower, explained above.

5. “Expo Albania” – Farkë
Architects: Steven Holl, Agnieszka Kurant, Atelier 4, Markgraph, ARUP, Stoss Landscape.

A trade fair centre with flexible spaces for exhibitions, concerts, events, logistics and recreation, including hotel and restaurant service areas. It is designed for a site beside Farkë Air Base on Tirana’s Eastern Ring Road.

The project covers 17 thousand square metres of land at Farkë Air Base. It is intended to provide around 30 thousand square metres of floor space. It was declared the winner on 18 April 2024 after an open competition launched on 29 December 2023. The design team received 40 thousand euros.

The visuals were presented on 14 October. The concept is part of a feasibility study supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). There is currently no call for investors.

6. “New National Library Building” – Dora D’Istria Street
Architects: XDG – Xavier De Geyter, iRI

The National Library is planned for the former Republican Guard site, at the entrance to the Grand Park by the Artificial Lake.

The project has not been made public, although it was conceived as early as 2020. It appears in the renderings of the 14-storey hotel that Nova Construction is building in the area. It is titled “Pieces, Hospitality and The New Building of The National Library”. It also envisages construction of the National Centre of Culture for Children. The latter is currently being built.

The reasons for the delay in building the new National Library are unclear. But the corporation obtained use of the proposed site through a Council of Ministers decision approved on the same Thursday, 9 January. On Friday, it included it in a “dual call for design proposals and investment”. Under the call, a private developer would build the new library in exchange for a tower near the Student City area.

The competition opened on 10 January with a deadline of 10 February. The investor must be financially stable and have access to liquidity for an investment of 8.5 million euros.

7. A 25-storey tower at the former German villas
Architects: Not yet specified

A mixed-use tower on Gramoz Pashko Street, in the area of the former German villas in Student City.

The corporation offers 5,219 square metres of land, currently occupied by 7 government villas, for private development. The condition is construction of the National Library. It offers the possibility of developing up to 60 thousand square metres of floor space. The proposed uses are retail (5%), offices (10%), hotels (25%) and housing (60%).

Assuming site coverage of 45–50%, the building footprint could be 2,400 square metres. From this, we can infer that the private developer could build a tower of around 25 storeys there.

The competition opened on 10 January with a deadline of 10 February. The investor is free to design the tower with its own team on condition that it also builds the library.

8. Selman Stërmasi Stadium – “New Tirana”
Architects: Not yet specified

As we have reported, the corporation is offering Selman Stërmasi Stadium as an asset for development by private investors. They are required to build a sports facility. In exchange, they are offered development rights for up to 120 thousand square metres of floor space on 57 thousand square metres of land.

Described as “Revitalising the Selman Stërmasi Stadium,” the project does not rule out a second stadium with a tower. This is because the National Stadium project with a tower has received high public praise from the government and Tirana Municipality.

The competition, through a “dual call for design proposals and investment”, opened on 24 December 2024 with a deadline of 24 January 2025. The investor is free to design the project but must be financially stable. It must also have experience with similar construction projects and access to liquidity of at least 12 million euros.