Today, walking along Uus Street, you can see an old and weathered building at Uus 16/1 — but in a year’s time, the music building of the Old Town Educational College will have been fully renovated.
Merko is responsible for managing both the design and construction work involved in renovating the building, which was built in Tallinn’s Old Town between 1809 and 1810. The project has been commissioned by the non-profit organisation Miikaeli Ühendus, and the reconstruction is scheduled for completion in early June 2027.
The building being renovated has an interesting history. It was designed by the renowned architect Johan Carl Ludvig Engel, who served as Tallinn’s city architect from 1809 to 1814 and later became a towering figure of Finnish classicist architecture. After serving several purposes over the years — including as the Tallinn Crown Pharmacy and a home for noblewomen run by the Kanuti Guild — the Old Town Music House began operating in the complex in 1986. A few years later, the building also became the birthplace of the Old Town Educational College.
As part of the renovation, the foundations of the heritage-listed building will be reinforced with micropiles, the roof covering will be replaced, and worn-out floors and floor coverings will be removed. The project also includes the restoration of the façade, doors and windows, furniture and lighting fixtures, along with many other works required to bring the premises up to modern standards. For example, modern technical systems will be installed to improve the indoor climate, and minor changes will be made to the layout of the attic floor. The renovation is scheduled for completion in early June 2027.
