Abstract
In the mid-19th century, European countries underwent significant changes in their economies. To a large extent they were facilitated by the development of railways. The ability to transport goods quickly and cheaply by land facilitated industrial development and urban growth. The growing needs of the economy created the need for educated specialists who could successfully meet the increasing demands. Riga was not an exception in these processes. A decision inspired by local entrepreneurs was made to educate specialists locally instead of attracting them from other countries. Established in 1862, the Riga Polytechnic was the first institution of higher technical education in the Baltic region. Already in the first decade of its operation, the Department of Architecture (DA) was opened. This study is aimed at identifying and evaluating the circumstances that impacted the formation of architectural education in Riga and estimating the contribution of DA graduates to the urban landscape of Riga city centre.