In the Russian territory of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, lies the township of Kogalym. Founded in 1975 to service the vast oil fields within the region, it continues to do so today – its most significant employer being Lukoil, one of Russia’s largest companies.
Until recently, the remote nature of Kogalym meant that entertainment, retail, and other core facilities that typically promote community were missing for the town’s people.
Realizing the problem, Lukoil’s founder and CEO, Vagit Alekperov, approached us to devise a solution. Inspired, we developed the Galactika Sports and Cultural Complex concept. A turnkey integrated family entertainment destination, it would serve all the community’s needs for connection within one destination.
Incorporating an oceanarium, aqua park, winter garden, coffee shops, natural green spaces, retail spaces, and areas designed to facilitate social gatherings both large and small, the precinct design provided a canvas to bring locals together.
Beyond entertainment, we also considered other aspects of wellbeing, incorporating educational and learning facilities within the design. At the same time, we achieved opportunities for visitors to experience habitats and natural wildlife not available to locals within the surrounding region through the development of key exhibits.
This was a truly collaborative endeavor. With construction beginning in 2014, we contracted several specialists and experts, both in New Zealand and internationally, to complete the large-scale works while managing all project concepts, operations, and management, to ensure the Galactika vision was achieved.
Our exhibit and spatial design team based in New Zealand and South Africa delivered the design and planning of the precinct’s 14 key attractions. A Turkish Project Management and Engineering team of the main Contractor from Kazan, Erel Gazstroy, provided 1,000 workers on the project. And a Turkish technical design team (SFMM) was contracted as Technical Designer of the works.
Opening in 2016, Galactika Sports and Cultural Complex has seen considerable success. Warmly welcomed by both locals within the township and others from further afield, over 15,000 visitors each week pass through its doors to experience its unique attractions.
Since completion, we have begun managing an extension of the development to increase its size and retail space by an additional 80% to fulfil the demand from the local community.