As usual, with the best-laid plans for building or refurbishment works, progress at the General Curia is not entirely proceeding to schedule. As you know, the Course in Preparation for Solemn Profession is supposed to begin in September 2016 at La Nocetta. And the work either has to be completed by that date, or be postponed until next year. As things stand at present, we have been told that, for “technical reasons” the work on upgrading the lift unit and installing the fire escape must be postponed until next year. This work will obviously make life difficult for the Brothers in the General Curia and the Co-workers on the staff.

 

But positive progress can be seen already: the interpreters’ booths are already installed in the hall, and a completely redesigned large glass wall gives a completely new look to the room. Work on the 3rd floor is almost completed and to ensure greater security, all the rooms will be fitted with smoke detectors. All the rooms will also be air-conditioned. The solar panels have been mounted on the 2 roofs of the building. The work on installing fire-prevention dividing doors on the stairs and in the corridors is already completed. In the coming weeks the fire doors will be mounted, and in the first few weeks of August the kitchen air conditioning unit will be installed.

 

The final completion date, originally scheduled for August 15, will therefore be deferred slightly to August 30. This means that the Course in Preparation for Solemn Profession will be able to take place as planned.

 

For the time being, the cost of the work is within budget, except for the firefighting system for which the cost has risen sharply because of a number of alterations that were required to be made by the local safety authorities.