Experts shared their experience in budgeting an investment project in the field of window conservation

On February 20, a unique seminar "Project Budget Assessment with Payback calculation" was held at the Nevsky Town Hall for potential investors and participants of the Conservation with Adaptation 2024-2025 competition, organized by the Investment Management Department of St. Petersburg, together with the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments., St. Petersburg branch of VOOPIiK, St. Petersburg GBU "GUION" and St. Petersburg regional branch of "Business Russia".
According to the terms of the competition, the submitted works should reflect not only the image of the preserved object, but also an estimate of the budget for the monument adaptation project, including the calculation of payback.
As Alexandra Komissarova, Deputy Chairman of the KGIOP, noted, the preservation of a cultural heritage site is impossible without understanding its role in the context of the urban environment and the benefits it will bring as a result of adaptation to modern use. The choice of the best option for careful preservation of the monument is connected with this aspect.
Anna Isakova, Director of the St. Petersburg State Budgetary Institution "Investment Management", emphasized that the preservation of cultural heritage sites is both a service to St. Petersburg and the creation of new points of attraction for the city's guests. At the same time, a competent economic calculation is an integral component of the project, as it allows you to analyze the potential of the facility and the possibilities of its future use. Such an integrated approach generally increases the investment attractiveness of the project.
The importance of a creative approach and finding unique functions of objects in the process of project development was emphasized by Elena Reznikova, the moderator of the seminar, Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg State Educational Institute.
Igor Devyatko, Head of the Project Formation Department at GBU GUION, noted the importance of the ongoing competition to attract the attention and interest of potential investors in the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
Sergey Stepanov, strategic partner of the ACADEMIA boutique hotel chain, shared his experience in calculating the financial model of the project with the seminar participants. Using specific examples, he explained how to correctly predict costs and correctly calculate the budget of the adaptation project.
As part of the seminar, Svetlana Firsova, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor of the Department of State, Municipal and Social Management at the A. I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University, gave a lecture on topical issues that may arise from the participants of the competition, potential investors or future owners of windows in the process of preparing their projects.
We remind you that the acceptance of applications for participation in the regional competition "Conservation with adaptation 2024-2025" continues until 30.04.2025. Project teams consisting of students or professionals with higher specialized education are invited to participate (individual participation is allowed), as well as students and graduates of the following specialties: design, architecture, urban planning, restoration and reconstruction of architectural heritage, design of buildings and structures, journalism, urban studies, economics and real estate management, etc. The participation of interdisciplinary teams is welcome.
You can apply for participation in the competition by following the link https://forms .yandex.ru/u/6724f218f47e7393f7c3ca2d / indicating which of the 16 cultural heritage sites you choose to develop a conservation and adaptation project.
The best project identified by the results of the competition will be placed on the Investment Map of St. Petersburg within the framework of the Ruble per Meter program. 
For reference:
The regional competition "Conservation with Adaptation 2024-2025" was announced in the fall of 2024 as part of the IV Conference on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Sites – Monuments of Wooden Architecture. The purpose of the competition is to create and identify the best project proposal for adapting cultural heritage sites for modern use.