As the first phase of the Patarei Sea Fortress development, a memorial museum for the victims of communism received its cornerstone today, and the traditional wreath ceremony was held. The museum, which will have a total area of 5,000 square meters, will open on June 14, 2026. Meanwhile, US Real Estate is preparing the next phase of the complex’s construction.
“The Patarei Sea Fortress has borne witness to both hope and suffering throughout history. Establishing the museum is a step toward the future — a way to remember the victims and keep their stories alive so that history does not repeat itself. We are creating a place where people can experience the past more intimately and authentically — to understand and empathize. This is our duty to both the past and the future,” said Urmas Sõõrumaa, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of US Invest.
“Personally, I wish to restore the chapel originally part of the complex, so that everyone has a dignified place to honor these memories. The Patarei Sea Fortress has been much more than a prison or military installation — it is a symbolic place where history meets the future.”
The Government of the Republic of Estonia decided on April 26, 2018, to establish an international Museum for the Victims of Communism, developed by the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
“Let the Patarei Museum become a place that tells the story of the crimes of communism more powerfully than anywhere else in the world, so that visitors leave aware of the dangers that communism still poses, but also with renewed faith in humanity,” said Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta.
“This museum will tell the story not only of Estonians, but also of our neighbors and the suffering endured across other parts of the world under the inhumane ideology of communism.”
The large and complex structure, protected under heritage conservation laws, will be reconstructed and partially preserved. The international memorial museum will be completed as the first phase. The museum’s interior architecture was designed by KOKO Architects, with Bildgren Ehitus as the construction partner. The museum will be leased by State Real Estate Ltd (Riigi Kinnisvara AS) and operated by the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory. The creative lead of the permanent exhibition is Martti Helde.
“It is rewarding to see that the long-awaited goal of establishing a museum for the victims of communism — a project in the making for an entire generation — has reached a symbolic milestone. In just a couple of years, this sanctuary for lives left unlived will fulfill its mission as a museum: to acknowledge, to educate, and to ensure that such horrors never happen again,” said Martin Andreller, Board Member of the Estonian Institute of Historical Memory and one of the project’s leading proponents.
In addition to the museum, US Real Estate is developing a 310-meter-long seaside promenade on the maritime side of the building. This promenade will connect the Kalaranna Quarter with Noblessner, opening up the city further to the sea.
“The Patarei Sea Fortress has been designed as a multifunctional environment, and we already have a building permit in place,” said Gert Jostov, CEO of US Real Estate.
“When we purchased the fortress, we took on the obligation to build the museum by 2026 and to preserve the rest of the fortress. We are ahead of schedule, and by summer 2025, the planned construction volume will be completed. The earliest possible completion for the entire complex would be in the second half of 2027.
We are currently in negotiations with several world-class five-star hotel brands that have shown strong interest in this unique property. Hopefully, these discussions will be successful. In addition to the hotel, the complex will also include residences, cafés, and commercial spaces — all of which can be enjoyed by city residents.”
US Real Estate, owned by Urmas Sõõrumaa, is a real estate company with over 100,000 m² of leasable space and over 200,000 m² under development. The company owns business, education, and sports real estate, and develops comprehensive residential and business environments, including Patarei Sea Fortress, Golden Gate, Park Tondi, and the Rotermann Quarter. The total value of its real estate portfolio exceeds €300 million.
