The World Bank Control Committee visits the General Staff within the St. Petersburg Economic Development Project

18 February, 2009 during the visit to the State Hermitage Museum the World Bank Control Committee headed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) representatives Gevork Sarkisyan and Tatyana Shadrunova visited the General Staff East Wing building where the works within the massive building restoration project are being conducted. A meeting devoted to the General Staff East Wing Building Reconstruction and Restoration Project took place. Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage Museum, A. A. Vasiliev, CEO of St. Petersburg Foundation for Investment Projects, A. N. Dydykin, Head of the General Staff Department, and N. I. Yavejn, Chief of Studio 44 Architectural Workshop (the general designer) took part in the meeting. The guests had a look at the restoration process within the frameworks of the Phase 1 of the East Wing reconstruction and restoration works which should be over by the middle of 2010. The members of the working group visited the New Grand Enfilade. General Staff East Wing Building Reconstruction and Restoration Project exhibition.

The World Bank representatives confirmed the financing of the Phase 1 of the restoration.

During the meeting T. Shadrunova was introduced as a new Head of the St. Petersburg Economic Development Project.

The works in the General Staff building are conducted according to the Grant Financing Agreement signed between the St. Petersburg Foundation for Investment Projects (the project Employer) and the State Hermitage Museum. This event became possible due to the IBRD Culture Support Investment Foundation which provided a grant for the conduction of the works.

The General Staff East Wing Building Reconstruction and Restoration Project is a part of the Big Hermitage programme. The goal of the programme is to transform the museum into a city-forming centre of St. Petersburg. According to the programme the General Staff building should become not only an exhibition space for the 19th-21st centuries art but also a cultural and public forum setting the new frameworks for the existence of Dvortsovaya Square.

Participants of working group at exhibition New Grand Enfilade General Staff East Wing Reconstruction and Restoration Project

At the exhibition in the General Staff Building

Visitors see over the process of restoration

Acquaintance with work on restoration of the General Staff East Wing Building