New school building in Tallinn becomes a third more expensive over 2 years

Tallinn Mayor Peeter Raudsepp (Isamaa) said that a major expense for the city is that new buildings are not constructed using standardized solutions, but rather elaborate architectural competitions are held. As a negative example, he cited a cabinet for the teachers' lounge in the new building of Tallinn Secondary School of Science, costing around €27,000. The mayor argued that officials just go with what's offered, leading to only one bidder winning the procurement and dictating high prices.

Johan Tali, architect from Molumba firm responsible for the extension, clarified that the item is not an ordinary cabinet but a 3-meter-high, 10-meter-wide furnishing unit including a wardrobe, small kitchenette, and storage for STEM teaching materials. He said the cabinet is made of melamine and is simple in design, but the high cost is partly due to the city starting the furniture procurement only at the beginning of summer, requiring completion by the end of the season, when many European suppliers are on vacation. This meant only one bidder was willing to take the risk, adding a premium.

The Tallinn Urban Property Department stated the total cost of the new building will be €30 million, including furnishings, design, and archaeological excavations. Two years ago, the estimate was €22 million, marking a more than 30% increase. Department head Marko Sula attributed the increase partly to unexpected archaeological findings and geological conditions. In fall 2023, ERR reported that a medieval suburb had stood on the site, with finds including a simple cooking pot.

Deputy Mayor for education Andrei Kante (Center) acknowledged that the procurement process for furnishings could have been organized better, and the department has hired a new specialist for interior design procurements. He noted that standardized solutions cannot be used everywhere and that the school likely required an architectural competition. "We cry and we pay," Kante said.