The 6,000 sq. m school that has opened its doors in Didžioji Riešė is not just another educational institution in a rapidly growing district. It is a nearly EUR 16 million response to a question that has been quietly but steadily emerging: what happens when residential neighborhoods expand faster than social infrastructure?

The new Šiaurės licėjus school and kindergarten has been established on a nearly 2-hectare plot next to Molėtai Highway – a location that has already become part of the daily route between home and the city for many families. The project was born out of real demand: official forecasts show that in the coming years the Vilnius region may face a shortage of around 15,000 places in general education schools, and Didžioji Riešė has been experiencing this shortage for quite some time. Some families were forced to drive their children to distant schools, placing additional pressure on urban transport systems and on daily family routines.

This is the second full-day school of Šiaurės licėjus, where not only high-quality education from kindergarten to gymnasium will be provided, but also meaningful activities for children after classes: non-formal education programs, clubs, and individual support for students. According to Eglė Sidorova, Business Director at Šiaurės licėjus, the decision to expand into the Vilnius district was driven not only by demographic trends but also by the understanding that education infrastructure often lags behind real estate development.

“Seeing the rapidly growing residential areas in the northern part of Vilnius and hearing the needs of parents as well as the real stories of families, we decided to establish the lyceum in Didžioji Riešė – where the need is greatest and where social infrastructure has not kept pace with the expansion of residential neighborhoods,” says Eglė Sidorova.

However, the road to opening was neither short nor simple. The implementation of the project took longer than expected and required far more invisible, day-to-day work than might appear at first glance. It involved long discussions over solutions, constantly revised plans, adjusted deadlines and, as the project participants themselves admit, countless corrections to Excel spreadsheets used to manage budgets, cost changes and financing structures.

The financing, structure and implementation of the project were managed by the investment fund management company 1 Asset Management, which manages the Education infrastructure fund that invested in the school. The fund includes both private and institutional investors. Part of the project was financed through a bank loan provided by Artea bank.

“We are proud of partnerships that not only contribute to the development of business in Lithuania but also address important social challenges. Every new school is important for society – it is an investment in our future, and we see great value in supporting projects that create new opportunities for the younger generation.

Šiaurės licėjus is growing and becoming a network of schools that inspires and promotes a modern approach to education. It is even more rewarding to see the result of this partnership – a school – not on paper but in reality,” says Kęstutis Grinius, Head of the Vilnius Region at Artea bank.

Infrastructure projects of this scale inevitably involve many participants – from the municipality to contractors, financiers, investors and the school’s own team. If even one link in this chain begins to stall, the entire project timeline can be affected. Schools operate according to an especially strict calendar – after all, the first bell of September cannot be postponed because of construction.

“This was a project where priorities constantly had to be reassessed and a long-term perspective maintained even when processes took longer than planned. It required staying very close to the project, accepting that decisions would change along the way and that timelines do not always follow initial schedules. We also realized how important the support of the city, the municipality and the community is. A delay in a single permit can fundamentally change the course of a project,” says Ieva Belickaitė, manager of the Education infrastructure fund. According to her, the patience of investors, financial partners and the entire team, as well as their ability to cooperate, ultimately allowed the project to be implemented as planned.

Robert Duchnevič, Mayor of Vilnius District Municipality, emphasizes that private capital investments in educational infrastructure are becoming an important part of the district’s growth and help address the challenges created by a rapidly increasing population.

“Vilnius district is changing rapidly – the population is growing, especially young families. Projects such as the new Šiaurės licėjus contribute to the attractiveness of the entire district and create a higher quality living environment,” says the mayor.

School as a multifunctional education center

The new building has been designed as a complex combining a school, kindergarten and swimming pool, where academic learning is integrated with children’s physical and emotional well-being. The complex includes flexible classrooms, sports spaces, creative areas, a spacious reading room, a quiet room and a swimming pool for learning to swim. In the second stage of construction, a basketball hall meeting all sports standards will also be built. The site also includes large outdoor sports areas – basketball and volleyball courts as well as leisure zones for relaxation.

A separate kindergarten wing has been designed for the youngest children, with a closed courtyard for active outdoor play and terraces next to each classroom. Both the school and the kindergarten include comfortable dining areas and a modern on-site kitchen.

Importantly, some non-formal education activities – sports, swimming and extracurricular clubs – are intended not only for the school community. Already now, many children from surrounding neighborhoods participate in these activities, helping to address the shortage of after-school programs in Didžioji Riešė.

“When creating this school, we thought not only about today’s needs but also about how it will function in ten or fifteen years. The building, spaces and their functionality must help children grow, change and feel safe during different stages of their lives. It is important for us that the school is not only a place to study but also an environment where children can discover their strengths and learn without the fear of making mistakes,” says Inga Romanovskienė, Head of Šiaurės licėjus in Didžioji Riešė.

The building has been designed to adapt to changing education models, student numbers and community needs. The school will be developed in stages – in the long term it is planned to expand it into a full gymnasium, with a total capacity of up to 800 students. The kindergarten can already accommodate up to 180 children.

Architecture and sustainability

The school project was prepared by the architectural studios 2L Architects and A01 architektai, construction works were carried out by Veikmės statyba, and project management and supervision were performed by Viconus.

The building meets A++ energy efficiency class requirements, a solar power plant has been installed on the roof, certified natural materials are used, and efforts were made to preserve most of the trees originally growing on the plot. The project is aiming to obtain a BREEAM sustainability certification.

A Nordic approach and everyday experience

Šiaurės licėjus has been operating in Lithuania since 2015 and consistently applies a Nordic educational philosophy focused on balancing academic results with children’s emotional well-being. More than 700 students currently study in the two schools, while more than 100 children attend the kindergartens located in the city center, Žvėrynas and Didžioji Riešė. The new school and kindergarten in Didžioji Riešė will continue this Nordic educational approach, aiming to create an environment that is meaningful and closely connected to children’s everyday experiences.