Excavation work for the foundation of a 2,100-student school has begun in the Orekhovaya Sopka microdistrict of Khabarovsk. The project is being implemented under a concession agreement between the Khabarovsk Region and VIS Group. Sergey Abramov, First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government, and Alexey Kolevatykh, Deputy Chairman for Construction, assessed the start of the large-scale construction project. Alexander Kozarenko, Head of the Social and Transport Infrastructure Divisions at VIS Group, and Anton Bogatyrev, Project Director, briefed him on the priority work plan.
The school in Orekhovaya Sopka will be one of the largest comprehensive schools in the country. The total floor area of the four-story building will be over 38,000 m², with a site area of 10,500 m². These parameters make it one of the three largest schools in Russia – educational institutions of comparable scale have only been built in Moscow and the Moscow Region.
This project was added to VIS Group's investment portfolio in February 2026, when the holding company acquired OOO Shkola.1 through an auction. Khabarovsk Region signed a concession agreement with the company in 2024, but its implementation never actually began. A company from the Group's construction division was previously selected as the project's general contractor following a tender. The facility is currently being designed in accordance with modern requirements, taking into account the previous concessionaire's work.
“This is a very large, customized project; there are only a few like it in Russia. Both the design and construction of a school of this kind is a significant undertaking. School design regulations have changed in the past few years since the project's launch, so the technical specifications have been significantly revised, and the parameters have been optimized based on the governor's recommendation. The concessionaire is currently revising the current design, which will be submitted for state review in June. The company has taken a serious approach to organizing the work. The regional government, in turn, will provide assistance. This project is significant not only for Khabarovsk Region but for the entire Russian Far East,” noted Sergey Abramov, First Deputy Chairman of the Khabarovsk Region’s Government.
The future educational complex will house elementary, middle, and senior grades. In addition to standard classrooms, it will also feature a video conferencing room, a digital technology room, gyms, and assembly halls. A stadium with various sports facilities will be built around the educational institution.
“Following discussions at the urban planning council chaired by Khabarovsk Region Governor Dmitry Demesha, the building’s architectural concept has been finalized and approved. It will seamlessly integrate with the surrounding development. Taking into account the background of this concession project and the delayed start of construction of this much-needed facility, a decision was made to begin excavation work and prepare to build the foundation using the existing groundwork conducted by the previous concessionaire, which will further reduce the construction timeline,” said Alexander Kozarenko.
By attracting private investment, the concession format will allow the region to create a modern, large-scale educational complex without a significant immediate burden on the budget. Under the terms of the agreement, the concessionaire is responsible for raising extra-budgetary funding, designing and constructing the facility, and, after its completion, will ensure the technical operation of the building until 2038. The school will be a state institution. Education, in accordance with Russian law, will be provided free of charge under state educational programs.
Alexey Kolevatykh, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government for Construction, emphasized the need for quality control: “It’s crucial now to finalize the design, obtain a schedule, and begin the main work. One of two agencies under the Russian Ministry of Construction – Rosstroykontrol or Roskapstroy – will be engaged to oversee construction. This will ensure the quality and compliance of the facility being constructed with the design documentation. The Regional Ministry of Construction and the State Construction Supervision Committee will also oversee the project's implementation.”
To date, site development and planning, access roads, and construction headquarters have been completed. Equipment and personnel have already been mobilized, and their numbers will gradually increase in line with emerging work areas. VIS Group will secure bank financing and contribute its own funds for the school’s construction, and will also provide project management throughout its lifecycle. The construction timeline and final capital expenditures will be finalized after receiving the state expert review, which is expected in September 2026.
The school in Orekhovaya Sopka will be one of the largest comprehensive schools in the country. The total floor area of the four-story building will be over 38,000 m², with a site area of 10,500 m². These parameters make it one of the three largest schools in Russia – educational institutions of comparable scale have only been built in Moscow and the Moscow Region.
This project was added to VIS Group's investment portfolio in February 2026, when the holding company acquired OOO Shkola.1 through an auction. Khabarovsk Region signed a concession agreement with the company in 2024, but its implementation never actually began. A company from the Group's construction division was previously selected as the project's general contractor following a tender. The facility is currently being designed in accordance with modern requirements, taking into account the previous concessionaire's work.
“This is a very large, customized project; there are only a few like it in Russia. Both the design and construction of a school of this kind is a significant undertaking. School design regulations have changed in the past few years since the project's launch, so the technical specifications have been significantly revised, and the parameters have been optimized based on the governor's recommendation. The concessionaire is currently revising the current design, which will be submitted for state review in June. The company has taken a serious approach to organizing the work. The regional government, in turn, will provide assistance. This project is significant not only for Khabarovsk Region but for the entire Russian Far East,” noted Sergey Abramov, First Deputy Chairman of the Khabarovsk Region’s Government.
The future educational complex will house elementary, middle, and senior grades. In addition to standard classrooms, it will also feature a video conferencing room, a digital technology room, gyms, and assembly halls. A stadium with various sports facilities will be built around the educational institution.
“Following discussions at the urban planning council chaired by Khabarovsk Region Governor Dmitry Demesha, the building’s architectural concept has been finalized and approved. It will seamlessly integrate with the surrounding development. Taking into account the background of this concession project and the delayed start of construction of this much-needed facility, a decision was made to begin excavation work and prepare to build the foundation using the existing groundwork conducted by the previous concessionaire, which will further reduce the construction timeline,” said Alexander Kozarenko.
By attracting private investment, the concession format will allow the region to create a modern, large-scale educational complex without a significant immediate burden on the budget. Under the terms of the agreement, the concessionaire is responsible for raising extra-budgetary funding, designing and constructing the facility, and, after its completion, will ensure the technical operation of the building until 2038. The school will be a state institution. Education, in accordance with Russian law, will be provided free of charge under state educational programs.
Alexey Kolevatykh, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Government for Construction, emphasized the need for quality control: “It’s crucial now to finalize the design, obtain a schedule, and begin the main work. One of two agencies under the Russian Ministry of Construction – Rosstroykontrol or Roskapstroy – will be engaged to oversee construction. This will ensure the quality and compliance of the facility being constructed with the design documentation. The Regional Ministry of Construction and the State Construction Supervision Committee will also oversee the project's implementation.”
To date, site development and planning, access roads, and construction headquarters have been completed. Equipment and personnel have already been mobilized, and their numbers will gradually increase in line with emerging work areas. VIS Group will secure bank financing and contribute its own funds for the school’s construction, and will also provide project management throughout its lifecycle. The construction timeline and final capital expenditures will be finalized after receiving the state expert review, which is expected in September 2026.
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