The Academy of Sciences edifice was built after
World War II, between 1951 and 1961, collecting the necessary financing from the newly established
kolkhozes in Latvia and – as further expenses increased, collecting the finances as "voluntary donations" deducted from the salaries of the Latvian rural population. The building is decorated with several
hammer and sickle symbols as well as Latvian folk ornaments and motifs. The spire was originally decorated with a wreath and a
five pointed star, which was removed after Latvia regained independence in 1991. Being tall, it was the first skyscraper in
the republic and was the tallest building until the construction of the
Swedbank Headquarters in Latvia (), and at the time, one of the highest
reinforced concrete buildings in the world. The building, designed by Osvalds Tīlmanis, Vaidelotis Apsītis, and Kārlis Plūksne, is a cousin to similar
Stalin-era skyscrapers, which were representative of what became known as
Stalinist architecture (sometimes referred to as
Socialist Classicism). The architecture of the skyscraper resembles
many others built in the Soviet Union at the time, most notably the main building of
Moscow State University. Local nicknames include ''Stalin's birthday cake
and the Kremlin''. The view of Riga cityscape is open for public viewing from the 17th-floor balcony (height of ). The tower is located in the suburb of
Maskavas forštate. == Gallery ==