The renovation work on the El Almacén Island Culture Center has now come to an end and the company is scheduled to hand it over next Friday, but a number of actions are still pending. These include the installation of new lighting, which will be carried out through a complementary project, and the repair of the carpentry, which will be carried out by Cabildo workers. This has been pointed out by the Island Corporation, which states that "if everything goes as planned, this space will be ready for its reopening in mid-June".
The president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, and the Minister of Education and Culture, Emma Cabrera, visited the CIC El Almacén this Wednesday accompanied by some Cabildo technicians and the head of the company awarded the work. They toured the areas subject to intervention such as the kitchen, the bathrooms, saw the new elevator and the Cine Buñuel, among others, checking 'in situ' the actions carried out, corresponding to the project of adaptation to the current regulations of the electrical installation, fire protection and the elimination of architectural barriers.
However, this place still needs some improvements that are included in an amendment, attached to the initial project, "with an expected cost of around 80,800 euros, which will be covered with the remainder of the budget of this same work, which had a starting budget of 214,183.53 euros". This includes special lighting and fire detectors, fireproof cladding and restoration of the false ceiling of the Cine Buñuel and replacement of the luminaires. The modernization of the projection equipment and audiovisual installation of the Cine Buñuel is also planned, with an estimated cost of 56,362 euros.
"Complications" and modification of the project
The Cabildo recalls that the initial project also required an amendment due to the complications that arose when enabling the elevator shaft. Due to the proximity of the sea, there was water about 70 centimeters from the ground and also basalt rock. It was necessary to expand and waterproof the aforementioned pit, extract and ventilate the elevator machinery cabinet, embed part of the fire protection installation, as well as modify the firemen's measuring and cutting equipment. In total, the modification has meant an increase of 4,836.67 euros in the awarded amount.
The councilor expressed her satisfaction because "the delivery of this work means that we are a little closer to the reopening of El Almacén, although we are aware that this space still requires many improvements." "This is an old building -she continues- that needs maintenance and this means having to be more aware of its needs. Furthermore, we are aware that when working on it, unforeseen events can always arise because we do not know the degree of conservation or deterioration of the materials that we do not see. We hope, however, that we can solve these inconveniences as soon as possible to reopen it as soon as possible."
The president said for his part that "there is still a lot of work to be done here, as we have been able to see and know after talking with the technicians, such as the replacement of the luminaires, restoration of wood, painting..." "I trust, -San Ginés pointed out- that this space can be reopened this year, which is a reference point".
