Astana Square


Astana Square or Old Square is a city square in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is the second largest square in Kazakhstan, after Republic Square. It hosts many public events, concerts, and ceremonies. The square is in front of the Kazakh-British Technical University, the monument of Aliya Moldagulova and Manshuk Mametova, and is on the left side of the Panfilov Street Promenade The square used to be named after Vladimir Lenin and a statue of him stood in the center of the square until 1991.

History

In 1921, the area was named Red Square. After the demolition of the Imperial-era buildings took place by the Soviet authorities, new government buildings were erected on the square. In 1937, the square was paved with stones for the first time. In 1955, the administrative building of Kazpotrebsoyuz was built on the corner of Panfilov Street. A monument to Soviet statesman Vladimir Lenin was erected on October Revolution Day on 7 November 1957. That same year, a construction of a new government building of Kazakh SSR was completed which is now KBTU Building.
After Brezhnev Square was opened in the city in 1980, the area was nicknamed "old square". The Lenin monument was moved to another location in 1997. As a result, the square was renamed once again to honor the newly established capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. In September 2017, the reconstruction of the square was completed, which resulted in the reduction ox the lanes and the creation of bicycle paths.