Estonia plans former cinema purchase for defence academy expansion

The state plans to buy Tartu’s former Ekraan cinema from Estiko Group for about €2.9 million and replace it with a teaching building for the Estonian Defence Forces Academy and the Baltic Defence College, ERR reports.

The academy’s student numbers have grown in recent years. In 2021, it had up to 90 places across basic courses for the land, air and naval forces; this year, it had 200. The academy says it lacks enough space for all its students.

Academy chief of staff Lt. Col. Rainek Kuura said its main lecture hall is in high demand because the institution runs different courses. The academy also shares facilities with the Baltic Defence College and a local Defence League unit, both of which need large rooms. Although some classrooms can seat 70 people, Kuura said their long, narrow layout makes them unsuitable for teaching groups that large.

The academy considered moving its teaching complex to Raadi, but an analysis by the State Defence Investment Centre found that staying in the city centre would cost less. Centre portfolio manager Steven Linkov said a new complex in Raadi would be 30 to 40 percent more expensive than renovating existing facilities and building the additional teaching space needed.

The plan is to demolish the former cinema and build a teaching facility of nearly 6,000 square metres, with up to five storeys. It would include classrooms and could also have an auditorium. The design will be determined through an architecture competition, and the building could be ready for use no earlier than 2032.