The construction of Tech Zity Vilnius, Europe's largest technology and creative industries campus, is officially launched in the capital's Naujamiest district, on the site of the former Lelija sewing factory. The first phase of the project, covering 16,500 sqm of space, will open its doors in summer 2025, and 75% of the premises have already been leased or reserved.

Vilnius City Municipality has issued building permits for two buildings in the first phase. Three green courtyards will be built within a year, and the transformation of the old sewing factory buildings will create modern offices, a conference centre, a sports and health club, a restaurant courtyard, and coworking spaces. This is the first of three phases of Tech Zity Vilnius, which will bring 5,000 jobs to the city by 2027. 

Tech Zity, which is developing the project, has signed a general contracting agreement with the construction company Gilesta, which won the tender and will carry out the contracting works for EUR 23 million. Work is already underway and is expected to be completed between May and July 2024, depending on the buildings.

„It took us more than two years to go from idea to launch, and it required not only the efforts of our team, but also the support of institutions. We are grateful to the specialists of Vilnius City Municipality and the Department for the Protection of Cultural Property for their efficient cooperation. I have no doubt that Tech Zity Vilnius will contribute not only to the competitiveness of the New Town, but also to the competitiveness of Vilnius as a whole. There are not many such projects in Europe, so both the start-up ecosystem and the capital city will benefit„, says Darius Žakaitis, co-owner of Tech Zity Vilnius.

„According to Romas Palulis, CEO of Gilesta, Tech Zity Vilnius has all the ingredients that make for successful results. 

„First of all, it is unique because it will have a real impact on community change: it is projects like this that shape a city and write its history. Secondly, we share similar values with the developers, we see the process in the same way, so the partnership runs very smoothly from the first minute. Thirdly, the sustainability aspect, which is very important to us as a general contractor, is also important to the client: the choice was made to renovate rather than build a new building, and a lot of the materials will be reused by integrating them into the new design,“ says R. Paliulis.

The interest in the project is confirmed by the leasing figures, with around 75% of the space already reserved and leased in the first phase. 

„We are currently working with the tenants“ teams to coordinate their interior designs. We are also planning the logistics of the conference centre, finalising the selection of restaurants and bars and coordinating the technological details with them. We are developing the idea of a non-traditional health and fitness club, which we will report more on later," says Žakaitis.

As previously announced, one of the most successful Lithuanian start-ups Omnisend, a fast-growing climate technology start-up HeavyFinance, Turing College, an educational innovation company, and Pepi Play, a studio of game developers, were the first ones to set up in Tech Zity Vilnius. Negotiations have also been finalised with game developer TutoTOONS, who will also be based at Tech Zity Vilnius.

„Tech Zity Vilnius will have a four-space conference centre that can accommodate up to 1000 participants. 7 different restaurants, cafés and bars will ensure the vitality of the leisure area. “Tech Zity Vilnius will also have co-working, educational and sports spaces. 

„Tech Zity Vilnius will be Europe's largest technology and creative industries campus, developed in Naujamiestis, in the former Lelija sewing factory complex. The first phase will open about a third of the total planned complex - 15,500 sqm out of the planned 55,000 sqm. 

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future Tech Zity Vilnius. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai.

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Tech Zity, a network of locations for startups, technology and creative industries, has added a bar to its Tech Spa workspace project in Druskininkai. The Mexican-style bar Cantina will also function as a cultural space, with concerts, cinema screenings and comedians„ performances taking place in the courtyard during the warm season. 

The aim of this space is to promote Druskininkai and to create a new centre of attraction for those who will choose between different Lithuanian resorts in summer. For the summer season, 9 concerts, free screenings of „Cinema Spring“ films and comedians„ performances are already planned in the outdoor space of “Tech Spa„ and “Cantina" bar.

„Over the years, we have tried various partnership models, collaborated with three different restaurants, but in the end, we saw that we had to invest ourselves - to create a cultural space and bar that would strengthen our rooftop project, and at the same time strengthen the Druskininkai event field,“ says Darius Žakaitis, the head of „Tech Zity“.

Cantina was created in collaboration with the owners of YDA bar in Vilnius.

„We have great workspaces and accommodation, but we lacked two elements - cultural activities and a place to enjoy our leisure time. I am sure that this development will contribute to the growth of Druskininkai's potential - the resort already has everything it needs for a good holiday, but what was often missed was more cultural activities for a younger audience,“ says Karolis Petkus, CEO of Tech Spa.

According to him, there are plans to cooperate with the Druskininkai Culture Centre and the Youth Employment Centre, so that the cultural courtyard can regularly host events for different audiences.

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future largest technology and creative industries campus in Europe, Tech Zity Vilnius. “The Tech Spa project, located in Druskininkai, is dedicated to company employee workspaces.

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Tech Zity Vilnius, Europe's largest technology and creative industries campus, which will be located on the site of a sewing factory in the capital's Naujamiest district, has received permission from the Vilnius City Municipality to start the construction of the first phase of the project. This permit marks an important step in a project that will change the face of Vilnius New Town and attract 5,000 workers to Paneriai Street.

„We can see that the project is attracting a lot of market interest, both in terms of office leasing and real estate development. The fact that we have leased most of the first phase before the building permit is granted, I see as a growing demand for this type of office space. The municipality is also following our project closely, expecting positive developments in the Naujamiesčiai area, which will contribute to greater vitality in this part of the city,“ says Darius Žakaitis, CEO of Tech Zity.

Construction work will start in April, and the first phase will involve the reconstruction of one of the buildings of the former Lelija sewing factory - the L-shaped wing - which will take up to 12 months. The first phase of the project will consist of the reconstruction of two buildings in total, the L-shaped building and the H-shaped building, the oldest part of the tailor's shop, which dates back to the interwar period. The building permit for the reconstruction of the H-block is expected to be obtained in May.

„Tech Zity has been negotiating with eight, then five, potential construction contractors, which are now in the final stages and the chosen partner will be announced shortly. The first phase, which will last 12-14 months, will have a reconstruction and construction estimate of over €20 million and will create 15,500 sqm of space. It will include offices, co-working and educational spaces, a conference centre, 7-8 restaurants and cafés. 

In November, the tenants of Tech Zity Vilnius were announced: technology companies, well-known Lithuanian and international start-ups such as Omnisend, HeavyFinance, Turing College, Pepi Play.

„We are looking for a team of partners that will be based in our office, which will contribute to strengthening Vilnius as a technology and innovation hub and grow the startup ecosystem together“, says D. Žakaitis.

The first phase of Tech Zity Vilnius is being designed by two teams of architects - Do Architects for the L block and A2SM Architects for the H block.

„Tech Zity Vilnius is Europe's largest future technology and creative industries city, being developed in Naujamiestis, in the former Lelija sewing factory complex. The first phase will open about one third of the total planned complex - 15.5 thousand sqm out of the planned 55 thousand sqm.

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future Tech Zity Vilnius. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai.

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Plug and Play, the international start-up accelerator known worldwide as the creator of the innovation and investment ecosystem, has chosen Vilnius Tech Park for its first 480 sqm office in the Baltics. It is here that they will contribute to the growth of 60 innovative start-ups over two years.

„According to Plug and Play, the location was chosen for its activities for a reason.

„This is the largest centre for technology start-ups in the Baltics and Northern Europe. Networking opportunities with thousands of ICT staff, large rooms and event spaces are all we need for our accelerator programme to thrive. And of course, the beautiful Sapiegas Park also makes for an attractive working environment,“ says Raimondo Pili of Plug and Play.

The accelerator plans to attract at least 60 start-ups over five phases, grow them and invest in the majority of them - two thirds. The first round has already taken place, with the first group of more than 200 startups selected.

„This partnership, I am sure, will have very significant consequences for the Lithuanian startup ecosystem - Plug and Play's successful international activity proves that they are not only able to select the startups with the best ideas, but also to grow them. Having this company here at Tech Park is a huge benefit for our entire community. I think that just interacting with the start-ups in the vicinity will create new and unexpected results that even Plug and Play itself does not predict,„ says Darius Žakaitis, CEO of Tech Zity, which runs Tech Park.

Plug and Play sees the Lithuanian start-up ecosystem as having a high growth potential, despite some structural challenges. The company's launch in the Baltics marks an important step for both the region's technology sector and Plug and Play itself, demonstrating mutual trust and commitment to fostering innovation and international business.

„Plug and Play is a leading innovation platform connecting start-ups, businesses, venture capital funds, universities and government organisations. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA, but operates in more than 50 locations on five continents. “Plug and Play offers corporate innovation programmes and supports its partners at all stages of the innovation journey, from education to implementation. The company also runs start-up accelerator programmes and has set up a venture capital fund to foster innovation across industries.

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future largest technology and creative industries campus in Europe, Tech Zity Vilnius, currently under construction in Naujamiestis. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai.

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In the heart of Vilnius„ New Town, in the former premises of a sewing factory, the unique “Materials Library„ - the first of its kind in the Baltic States - has opened its doors. It is not only a repository, but also a creative laboratory where architects and interior designers will be able to select old materials and reuse them in the new interiors of Tech Zity Vilnius, a city of technology and creative industries.

„Tech Zity has started to realise an ambitious vision in a former sewing factory complex - to bring old buildings to life and create Tech Zity Vilnius Campus. Before the reconstruction work began, a large number of authentic finishing materials, interior details and objects reflecting the history of the nearly 80-year-old sewing factory were collected.

„We are building a home for the start-up community. We have inventoried and put together all the old materials and objects so that the architects of the future interiors will have them at their fingertips when presenting their visions of what they propose to use, where and how. Our goal is to integrate the old elements into the new modern interiors, so that they are distinctive, not cookie-cutter, and fun to work in. And alongside that, we are also creating partnerships with artists who use the same materials and objects to create new works of art,“ says Darius Žakaitis, CEO of Tech Zity.

That's why the library was designed as a home, he says, to show the feeling of being able to create creatively with tools and materials that wouldn't normally be kept.

„In the Materials Library, visitors can explore exhibits ranging from authentic tiles to furniture made from old sewing bales or sewing machines. Each item has its own story, which can be discovered in a specially created “Red Book„ (www.techzity.com/biblioteka).

„If we protect endangered nature, we can also protect some endangered objects or materials - that's why we have made sense of it all in the symbolic „Red Book“. Even though the names of the protected items in the Red Book are made up with a smile, the objects are real, preserved and ready to shine in the new interiors,“ says Žakaitis.

„The idea of the Materials Library was born by A2SM architect Aurimas Sasnauskas, who is implementing the transformation of the oldest former sewing factory building.

„I have no doubt that architects and interior designers will have their eyes lit up and their creative process will kick in as soon as they step into this space - even the use of a few unique old details can create the uniqueness of a modern interior,“ says A. Sasnauskas.

„Tech Zity Vilnius is Europe's largest future technology and creative industries city, being developed in Naujamiestis, in the former Lelija sewing factory complex. The first phase will open about one third of the total planned complex - 15.5 thousand sqm out of the planned 55 thousand sqm. 

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future Tech Zity Vilnius. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai.

The post „Tech Zity“ atveria duris į unikalią „Medžiagų Biblioteką“: siūlys pernaudoti buvusios siuvyklos aplinkos detales appeared first on Tech Zity.

Tech Zity Vilnius, Europe's largest technology and creative industries campus, which will be located on the site of a sewing factory in the capital's Naujamiest district, announces its first tenants. The first phase of the project, with 15,500 sqm, will open its doors in early 2025, and almost half of its premises - 6,500 sqm - are already leased or occupied.

The first to move in will be Omnisend, one of the most successful Lithuanian start-ups, HeavyFinance, a fast-growing climate technology start-up, Turing College, an educational innovation start-up, Pepi Play, a game developer studio, as well as Firstpick, a venture capital fund that helps start-ups grow. Negotiations are being finalised with another large game development studio, the name of which will be announced shortly.

The first phase of Tech Zity Vilnius will also include a 1500 sqm conference centre and co-working space for 50 employees.

„It is very important for us to implement our fundamental principles, such as not demolishing but redeveloping the old industrial buildings, turning the office campus into a new and open urban space that is alive all the time, not just during working hours. But the most important thing is the people and companies that will come to create and work in Tech Zity Vilnius. We are off to a great start - almost 40% of the space is already occupied before the reconstruction work has even started. And these names are exactly how we envision our community - growing, giving and willing to collaborate,„ says Darius Žakaitis, co-owner of Tech Zity Vilnius.

According to Rytis Laurinavičius, CEO and co-founder of Omnisend, the company will grow the largest of its three offices (the other two are in Kaunas and Charleston, P. Carolina, USA) in the near future, so it has already started looking for a new team.

„We were intrigued by the idea of the ambitious Tech Zity Vilnius project to bring together a community of talent in one convenient location for work and leisure. We currently have around 120 colleagues working in our Vilnius office, who need comfortable office spaces ranging from private offices to meeting, event and video studio spaces. Also, a larger proportion of our employees live within walking distance of this New Town development, so we are happy to provide them with a more convenient and sustainable commute. We hope to be successfully working in the new office by spring 2025,„ shared R. Laurinavičius.

The first partners are also already clear and will be located among the 8 restaurants, cafés and bars. Druska Miltai Vanduo, a bakery already popular with Vilnius residents, will have a restaurant here, while Brew, which has already been successfully operating in similar communities, will be offering a variety of coffees - Tech Loft and Cyber City. The Brew coffee chain, created by coffee culture leader Nidas Kiberis and his partners, will be distinguished this time by a unique and one-of-a-kind interior in the Baltic States, created from the interior parts, equipment, and furniture of the former „Lelija“ sewing factory. „The San Diego bar, currently operating in Tech Park, is also joining the Tech Zity Vilnius project and will open its second location here.

According to Nidas Kiuberis, after his first visit to the former sewing factory, he felt that Brew had to be there.

„We already prepare hundreds of cups of coffee for those who work and live in Naujamiestis every day, so expanding into this fast-changing part of Vilnius seemed like a natural step for the Brew team. However, we looked for a location for the new Brew café very carefully. Sustainability is a fundamental part of Brew's business philosophy, so it is particularly pleasing that the project's designers focused on the use and adaptation of existing materials,„ says Kiuberis.

The first phase of the tech campus in Naujamiestis is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025. The two-hectare Tech Zity Vilnius campus will have 55,000 sqm of space and nearly 5,000 jobs.

It is estimated that the project will accommodate around 100 Lithuanian and foreign companies, as well as a conference centre for up to 1,000 participants with four spaces. 8 different restaurants, cafés and bars will ensure the vitality of the leisure area. „Tech Zity Vilnius will also have co-working, educational and sports spaces.

Technology companies that have already decided to move to Tech Zity Vilnius from the first phase:

• „Omnisend is one of the most successful Lithuanian start-ups, whose e-commerce marketing solutions are used worldwide by more than 100 000 companies.
• „HeavyFinance is one of the fastest-growing start-ups in the financial sector, providing financial solutions to help farmers grow faster and fight climate change.
• „Turing College is a virtual artificial intelligence college offering world-renowned 6-24 month programmes in data science and machine learning, analytics, data engineering.  
• „Pepi Play is a five-year-old game development studio that has created tens of mobile games that have attracted millions of users.
• „Firstpick Venture Capital Fund is one of the most active funds in the Baltics, having already invested in more than 15 companies and helping them to actively grow.

„Tech Zity Vilnius is Europe's largest future technology and creative industries campus, located in Naujamiestis, on the site of the former Lelija sewing factory. The first phase will open about one third of the total planned complex - 15.5 thousand sqm of the planned 55 thousand sqm.

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future Tech Zity Vilnius. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai, and Tech Zity Klaipėda, which is being developed in the port city.

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Tech Zity Vilnius, a technology and creative industries campus being developed in the capital's Naujamiest district, has successfully raised €8 million. A further EUR 2 million issue is planned for February next year. The bonds were underwritten by Project Lilium, a company dedicated to the project, and offer investors an annual interest rate of 10.5%.

The bond issue is dedicated to the reconstruction of Tech Zity's flagship project, Tech Zity Vilnius, into Europe's largest tech and creative industries campus. The first phase of the project is planned to open in 2025, the second phase a year later. The total investment in the project will reach €100 million.

„This bond issue is to refinance our first bond issue and to further develop the project. The success of the issue shows the investors“ faith in the project,„ says Darius Žakaitis, one of the co-owners of Tech Zity Vilnius.

The bond issue is being executed by Šiaulių bankas, and the legal advisors are FO Consulting group and TGS Baltic Lietuva.

„Tech Zity Vilnius is being developed in the complex of buildings of the former Lelija sewing factory. During the first phase, about one third of the total planned complex will open its doors - 15.5 thousand sqm out of the planned 55 thousand sqm.Tech Zity Vilnius is co-owned by Mantas Mikuckas and Darius Žakaitis.

„Tech Zity manages four start-up, technology and creative industries locations in Vilnius - Tech Park, Tech Arts, Tech Loft and the future Tech Zity Vilnius. The company also owns Tech Spa, a workplace project in Druskininkai, and Tech Zity Klaipėda, which is being developed in the port city.

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Costume linings turned into ornate curtains, window grilles turned into outdoor furniture, old hangers turned into a decathlon table. This is how the first space, Offshore Eyes, has been reborn on the territory of the legendary Lelia clothing factory in the capital's Naujamiest. The team led by artists Robertas Narkas and Vytautas Gečs used a lot of old interior, industrial and fittings parts found in the factory premises. „Offshore Eyes is the first space in a huge project that will transform the Soviet factory into Europe's largest tech industry city - Tech Zity - by the end of next year.

This workshop is not a one-off project - Tech Zity's creators will be offering all the companies that will set up in the town the opportunity to use the old sewing room items they have repurposed with the help of artists in their new interiors. Creative reuse. upcycle), the process will preserve the highlights of the sewing factory, which has been in operation for more than 70 years, in the newly resurrected space, which will accommodate around 5,000 employees.

According to the artists, the conversion of the site creates a unique opportunity for change to take a sustainable path, as well as a broader opportunity for dialogue between different groups in society.

„Paneriai Street is transforming from a concentration of mid-century industries into a city of new digital technologies. This process not only involves renovation of premises and infrastructure, but also a change in the social fabric and class structure. New Town is entering a post-industrial era of advanced capitalism - the hum of machines and cogs is replaced by the soft melodies of a computer keyboard. Some theories put forward by urban anthropologists describe this transformation as a natural evolution, a tectonic fault line spreading out from the centre of the city in waves. Unfortunately, important stories, places and people are often drowned and forgotten in these waves. Let's dream that this time things will be different - the creative community, the harbingers of change, sometimes called marginals or the leftist academic community, are coming forward and contributing to the creation of the future as an equal, critically important meaning-making force, not only asking questions, but also looking for answers,“ says artist R. Narkus, who represented Lithuania at last year's Venice International Biennale.

According to Darius Žakaitis, CEO and co-founder of Tech Zity, this small space is only a symbolic sketch of the whole project and its sustainable change.

„It will be Europe's largest and most sustainable tech campus, so we want to keep the authenticity of the place, from details like the wall tiles to the huge spaces and 7-metre-high ceilings. We have also asked artists to help us create unique, new things from the objects found here, but reminiscent of an old sewing factory. I am sure that many of the companies that will set up here will continue in this direction and will use the details of the unique factory in their interiors,“ says Žakaitis.

„The conversion of the Lelija factory will be the largest renovation project implemented by Tech Zity - the capital's sewing factory will be home to a 50,000 sqm technology industries campus, which will include co-working and office spaces, event halls, lofts, cafes, bars, educational, sports, fitness and other public spaces. The first phase of the project is scheduled to start at the end of next year.

„Offshore Eyes can be found in Vilnius, Paneriai str. 43.

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