Vilnius is set to gain a landmark international congress center following the announcement of 17 architectural designs that have advanced in a national competition for the project.
The Vilnius Congress Centre, planned for a site in Naujamiestis near the Neris River, will be situated between the Seimas (Parliament) building and Geležinio Vilko Street. The location places it within walking distance of the Old Town, the central business district on Konstitucijos Avenue, and major transport hubs.
Organized by Vilnius Development Company, the international architecture competition received 28 submissions, with 17 designs meeting all public procurement requirements and advancing to the next stage of evaluation. A panel of experienced architects and experts will review the entries next week, with officials expressing hope that a design contract could be signed as early as June.
Laura Kairienė, the city’s chief architect, emphasized that the center aims to become a significant attraction across Europe and strengthen Vilnius’s position on the global stage. “It will be a place where creators can gather and collaborate with the international creative community,” she said.
Laura Joffė, head of Vilnius Development Company, noted the effort to attract international architectural talent, describing the process as both demanding and crucial. “We sought the strongest participants from Europe and around the world to secure the highest level of ideas,” she stated.
The proposed site holds historical significance, lying within the former Lukiškės suburb and adjacent to areas tied to Lithuania’s 1991 independence struggles, including a memorial stone for volunteer activists. During the Soviet era, the ground level was raised for the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR building, and an underground tunnel was constructed beneath the nearby square around 1980.
Once completed, the congress center is expected to host major international conferences, cultural events, and political gatherings whereas creating recent public space in the heart of Vilnius.
