It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The government changes the tower project, adds a floor above! (Permits of 2018 and 2026)

2026-03-13 17:20:22Fokus SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Tirana Rock Tower

One of the most controversial construction projects has been the tower being built in the center of Tirana, behind the Palace of Culture, named “Tirana Rock,” as construction has advanced. But, as is common in all construction sites, firms are demanding more space and additional floors, some of which they have built without permits and others have already found the institution that is “legalizing” them.

The Vox News editorial team researched new and old documents of the entire project, which shows that "Tirana Rock" received a permit for 25 floors, while in 2026, the government has made a decision to add 1 floor. If builders previously used build and legalize, now the government has become the main institution that is "legalizing" every construction, changing the initial projects, also making changes to the volume.

But if the urban plan was approved on time, even the height or width of the construction, why are additional permits being issued? Has the KKTU, an institution directly subordinate to the Prime Minister's Office, turned into a "go-to" for all builders? It seems that even the actions of a few years ago, or weeks ago, were carried out with the sole purpose that every builder should knock on the KKTU and not corrupt officials of the IMT, IKMT or even the urban planning offices in the local government.

It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The
Facsimile: KKTU permit for Tirana Rock in 2018, which specified that the construction height would be 25 floors

But the project in the center of Tirana was complex, as the architects were trying to make the facade resemble our national hero Skanderbeg. But, after construction, the facade resembles Prime Minister Edi Rama more than Skanderbeg. An important “trace” of the Prime Minister, who leaves his face on one of the towers in the heart of Tirana.

Not only that, but Prime Minister Edi Rama also puts his name, signature and seal to add another floor to "Rama", perhaps with the idea of ????making it more similar! Vox News has researched the 2018 documents of the KKTU permit, which states that the decision is given for the approval of the residential and service facility "Tirana Rock", with 25 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. According to them, the proposed plot for development is in the center of Tirana, in the place that was once the Old Bazaar. The property is 1,930 square meters and borders the Small Ring Road of Tirana.

It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The

It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The
Facsimile: Revised permit in 2026, showing that the Tirana Rock tower will be 26 stories above ground

Meanwhile, Vox News has also researched the 2026 permit, which was revealed a few days ago, and which also announced the construction firms Ana Shpk and Vi Vi, which will add 1 more floor to the tower. The documents also specify changes to the project, while not much information is given about why these changes were requested.

What is noticeable is that the tower will go from 25 floors to 26 floors, while there will be other changes. At the end, there are the signatures of Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who during the time she was under investigation by SPAK, or even during the period when the Prosecution requested that her immunity be lifted, has been quite active in disclosing the permits.

It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The

It started as "Skënderbe" and ended as "Rama" - The
Facsimile: The building permit documents specify that the facade will resemble our national hero Skanderbeg

The first construction permit, issued 8 years ago, states that Tirana Rock will complete the series of towers in the city center. According to it, the facade will also have a human layering, where it will be perceived from different points of the square, or even from a sculptural perspective, where the tower takes the form of our national hero, Skanderbeg.

But, seen from different points with the naked eye, the tower bears more resemblance to the current Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama. In fact, many visitors and architects have stated that the tower bears the shadow of Rama, while the facade seems to be more adapted to his physiognomy than to Skanderbeg.

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