The Albanian Investment Corporation extended the deadline for applications for the Palace of Congresses project from January 26 to February 16.
The project, which is part of the government's initiative to develop several state-owned properties with the private sector, seeks to attract investors who, after presenting the project and announcing the winner, will financially guarantee its development while the state takes its share.
Regarding the Congress Palace, the competition is expected to have two phases, while the basic condition for the bids is to offer no less than 45 percent of the total development area of the multifunctional facility on the Corporation's property near the Congress Palace, Tirana. According to the Corporation for the multifunctional facility on its property near the Congress Palace, the maximum area to be designed and developed is 50,000 square meters.
"This competition includes the design competition for two different objects: the Revitalization of the Palace of Congresses and the multifunctional object (next to the Palace of Congresses). Together, these two objects represent a unique opportunity to create architectural works of high social value and urban significance, reinforcing the role of Tirana as a city of care, innovation and growth," the procedure documents state.
According to the Corporation, in addition to the intervention at the Congress Palace, the second design objective is the construction of a new mixed-use building, on the business property, bordering the Congress Palace.
"The two structures should function independently, each with its own distinct identity and purpose, but maintaining harmony in both architectural and functional terms. This new development should enrich the surrounding area and serve as a new, vibrant, diverse and dynamic center within the capital city of Tirana," the document states.
Why development with the private sector has not been successful
So far, the government has attempted several times to enter into partnerships with the private sector to develop state property, but the finalization of contracts has been slow in relation to the number of procedures opened.
Void Tower, which envisaged the construction of a multi-story building on Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard in exchange for the construction of the Government complex, failed during negotiations with the first winner and was transferred to the second company.
Lift Tower, a project involving a multi-story building in Civil Engineering, was never successfully completed despite being announced several times.
Likewise, there are a series of other procedures that remain pending, such as stadiums in several cities or special projects related to institutions such as the new Library. Under the guise of companies that have shown interest and have withdrawn from some of the competitions, it seems that they see access to the minimum area required by the Corporation, which is over 45 percent, as a problem, while the financing risk and all other elements are left to the developer. / Monitor
