Latvia’s SAB Unveils Renovated HQ Honoring War Doctors and Independence
The Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) has unveiled its newly renovated headquarters in Riga. The building at Straumes iela 1, once a military hospital near me, has been transformed into a modern facility dedicated to the war doctors who served there. Director Egils Zviedris led the dedication, inspiring SAB employees to safeguard Latvia's declaration of independence and security.
The restoration project began in 2017 and construction started in 2020. Despite the building's historic significance, only a few meeting rooms are open to the public. Some original features have been preserved, including the names of seven prominent doctors who managed the hospital from 1919 to 1940. These names now grace the rooms of the SAB headquarters.
The building had been empty since 2012 before the renovation. It was part of a larger military hospital complex that had fallen into disrepair. Now, SAB's headquarters is considered more aesthetically pleasing than its predecessor, the VDD's headquarters, which was described as a 'slab-sided post-brutalist eyesore'.
The newly renovated SAB headquarters stands as a testament to Latvia's historical and cultural heritage, while also serving as a modern base for the bureau's operations. The dedication to the war doctors serves as a reminder of the country's past and the importance of protecting its independence and security.
