School and Sports Hall in Zapyškis, Kaunas County

The new extension thoughtfully divides the site into several key zones, enhancing functionality and community engagement. A welcoming, representative recreation area with green spaces, pathways, and an outdoor classroom is created at the complex's approach. The driveway alongside the building serves as a flexible space, primarily for vehicular access when needed, but transforming into an event plaza for school or community gatherings. A more secluded active zone is strategically placed behind the multi-functional hall. A service entrance on the southern side provides access for the school bus to a newly designed shelter, also allowing for deliveries to the sports hall when required. The bicycle shelter is relocated to the main entrance, adjacent to the school's entry, for convenient access. The existing waste container area remains in its current location, near the existing school's kitchen facilities. The architectural concept and material selection for the extension's facades are carefully dictated by the sensitive urban and natural surroundings, as well as the functional program. The new building intentionally uses contrasting facade finishes to clearly differentiate it from the existing structure, while simultaneously complementing the current development and, along with the existing church, forming a cohesive, semi-enclosed complex.

Zapyškis school, along with the schools in Kačerginė and Mastaičiai, stands out due to its innovative financing principle: Public-Private Partnership (PPP). PPPs are legally defined collaborations between state or municipal authorities and private entities. These partnerships enable public authorities to delegate their activities to a private body, which, in turn, invests in the necessary assets and infrastructure to carry out these activities and receives legally established remuneration. The Kačerginė, Zapyškis, and Mastaičiai school projects were among the pioneering PPP initiatives in Lithuania and have also received recognition from the UNECE.