Since it opened in late 2015, the Great Amber concert hall has become a prominent feature of Liepaja. Built with EU support, it has helped increase tourist numbers by 39% and led to the opening of new restaurants, venues and accommodation. It is home to one of the Baltic region’s oldest symphony orchestras, the Liepaja Music, Art and Design School, an art gallery and a restaurant. Great Amber opened in November 2015, its architect was Volker Giencke and its acoustics were designed by Karlheinz Müller Construction costs were €31.2 million, of which €12.8 million was funded by the EU Great Amber is home to the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra (79 musicians) and Liepaja Music, Art and Design School (238 students) 57 jobs have been created and tourist numbers in Liepaja increased by 39% in the year after it opened The building has won architecture awards from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies, the popular choice award at the Architizer A+ Awards, as well as several Latvian honours