Where to hide? The new building of the largest hospital in Latvia lacks a bomb shelter

The new treatment building of the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital will be constructed without a shelter, according to TV3. While current Latvian legislation requires new medical facilities to provide second-category protection against shock waves and shrapnel, a transitional period exempts projects designed before the laws took effect.

The facility, which costs nearly 70 million euros, is intended to house the Latvian Center for Infectology and the Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases. Hospital officials state the project’s design preceded the current mandatory construction standards.

Why does the new Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital building lack a shelter?

The absence of a shelter is due to a legislative transitional period. Current laws mandate that new stationary medical institutions include shelters capable of protecting against shrapnel and shock waves, but this does not apply to projects that commenced before these requirements were enacted.

Uldis Spriņģis, the security consultant for the Eastern Hospital, stated the project was approved in 2024. He noted that development began long before the war in Ukraine and that legislation did not require shelters in medical institutions at the time of documentation approval.

How were shelter requirements handled during the design process?

Architects and designers repeatedly suggested including shelters in the project during the documentation stage, according to TV3. The hospital rejected these suggestions.

The decision to omit the shelters was based on the fact that there were no mandatory construction standards for such facilities at the time of the design phase.

What civil protection measures are currently in place?

The Eastern Hospital claims it is adapting existing premises for civil protection needs. However, the hospital has not disclosed the capacity or exact location of these spaces.

Officials cited security reasons for the lack of transparency, noting that the facility is classified as critical infrastructure.

What may happen next for the facility?

Because the building is classified as critical infrastructure, authorities may continue to adapt existing spaces to compensate for the lack of a dedicated new shelter. Future security audits could potentially lead to further modifications of the site.

Depending on evolving safety needs, the hospital may be required to implement additional civil protection measures if current adapted premises are deemed insufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total cost of the new Eastern Hospital building?
The construction cost is nearly 70 million euros.

What specific protections are required by new Latvian legislation for medical facilities?
New stationary medical institutions must provide second-category shelters capable of protecting against shrapnel and shock waves.

Who is moving into the new treatment building?
The Latvian Center for Infectology and the Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases are planned to be relocated there.

How should cities balance current building budgets with unpredictable future security needs?