Standing where the Karoliniškės and Viršuliškės districts meet, the Press Building is an exceptional example of industrial construction. It is a press and radio beacon which not only spreads the latest news, but also bears the bullets of the January Events.
In the 1980s, the Central Committee of the Communist Party had grown tired of complaints from citizens about poor printing quality and decided to take on one of the largest projects of those times in Vilnius. A location was strategically selected for the new public building near the city centre, in a residential district with mid-rise block buildings.
The Press Building was built in several stages. First, the 20-storey newspaper and magazine publishing house shot up into the sky. Later, a production hall, warehouses, a garage, auxiliary buildings, a 200-seat cafeteria and a 500-seat conference room sprouted up next door. The first newspapers were printed in 1984, even before completion of the building.
Things changed after the tragic events of January 1991, and the once identical premises became diversified by their new owners. The tour through the Press Building is like a trip through time. This hi-rise in the Viršuliškės district now houses press and radio offices, various businesses and a theatre.
The Press Building was built as a symbol of the new districts, and it still is, without a doubt.
