School for children with mental disabilities in Minsk to be converted into a cadet school. Implementation took 18 years
This building in a quiet Minsk courtyard had already become the center of a loud scandal when authorities closed the only school for «special» children to create a militarized institution. At that time, cadets never appeared there, but two decades later, officials decided to see the plan through. Now, a large-scale complex with a shooting range, parade ground, and dormitory is planned here.
Visualization of the building reconstructed into the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School. Photo from project documentation
The Frunzensky District Administration has put up for public discussion the architectural and planning concept for the large-scale reconstruction of the building at 16 Prytytskaha Street. This refers to a typical school building from 1965, hidden in a residential courtyard near Pushkinskaya metro station.
Today, these premises are dedicated to children: they house numerous sections of the Frunzensky District Children and Youth Physical Culture and Sports Center, as well as clubs of the «Zorka» Center for Technical and Artistic Creativity.
However, soon sports life will give way to barracks order: according to the project, the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School will appear here.
What will change
Visualization of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School. Photo from project documentation
According to the presented documents, developed by NikaProyekt LLC commissioned by the Capital Construction Department of Sovetsky District, the complex awaits total transformations. Its total area will more than double — from the current 4,300 to 11,000 square meters.
Visualization of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School. Photo from project documentation
The main changes will affect three primary zones. First, the existing sports complex will be demolished. In its place, builders will erect a large block with two sports halls for games and physical education, a gym and choreography hall, as well as rooms for ski repair. A special feature of this new facility will be an indoor shooting range for pneumatic weapons.
Visualization of the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School. Photo from project documentation
The separate one-story building of old school workshops will also be demolished. In the vacated space, a four-story dormitory for cadets will appear. The residential block will accommodate 192 people. It is expected that 168 boys and 24 girls will be housed here. This same building will also house a medical unit and necessary utility and household premises.
General plan of the new Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk City Executive Committee Cadet School. Photo from project documentation
A large-scale reconstruction also awaits the main academic building. It will undergo a complete re-planning, a full-fledged catering unit with a production cycle will be organized, and an additional floor will be added. This is where a spacious assembly hall with a stage for 235 seats will be located. Additionally, a conference hall and a special room for a museum exhibition will be equipped for the needs of the school. The entire area around the complex will be fenced, a mandatory parade ground will appear in the inner courtyard, and the stadium will have completely renovated running tracks and sports turf.
How the project changed in two years
It is worth noting that the authorities already approached this facility quite recently. In the summer of 2024, the reconstruction project was already put up for public discussion, but at that time it looked much more modest.
In two years, the concept has dramatically expanded. If in 2024 the total area of the building was planned to increase to 7.2 thousand square meters, then in the 2026 version, the figure jumped to almost 11 thousand square meters. The building volume increased from 33 thousand cubic meters to 50 thousand.
What is the reason for such a scale? In the first version of the project, developed by the state-owned «Belzhilproekt», only the addition of a dormitory was planned. In the current version, developed by the private NikaProyekt LLC, a complete demolition of the old sports complex and the construction of a new one in its place, as well as the addition of an entire floor with an assembly hall, have been included.
How the school for «special» children was expelled
This project marks the end of a long and dramatic history for the building. Until 2008, it housed Primary School No. 9 for children with psycho-physical developmental disabilities. This was a unique institution for the city, where children with hyperactivity and behavioral problems — those who found it difficult or impossible to adapt in regular classes — were sent.
Building of the former School No. 9 before reconstruction. Photo: Yandex Maps
In 2008, the Minsk City Executive Committee decided to liquidate the school.
Officially, this was explained by optimization, «unprofitability,» and — most importantly — the necessity of creating a cadet corps for the Frunzensky District of Minsk on its basis. Authorities stated that this was being done «to improve the quality of ideological and patriotic education of the younger generation.»
Parents warned officials that the forced integration of their children into regular schools would lead to nervous breakdowns and conflicts. However, the parents' protests and suggestions went unheard — the school was closed.
Building of the former School No. 9 before reconstruction. Photo: Yandex Maps
But the paradox of the situation was that the promised «cadet corps» never materialized in the building. The empty spaces were occupied by sports and creative clubs. It took 18 years for the authorities to finally begin creating that very cadet school in place of the closed school — now under the direct patronage of the police.
How to participate in the discussion
Public discussion of the reconstruction project will take place from March 4 to March 18, 2026. All interested parties can review the materials on the official website of the Frunzensky District Administration in the «Public Discussion» section or in person in the foyer on the first floor of the administration at 39 Kalvaryjskaya Street, from 9:00 to 20:00.
Citizens can leave their comments and suggestions in a special logbook in the institution's foyer, send them in writing to the administration's postal address, or send them by email ([email protected]) with the mandatory note «public discussion». All collected appeals will be considered by the architectural and urban planning council under the chief architect of Minsk.
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