Workers this week began to remove seats, wall coverings and the stage floor at Ajijic’s auditorium, as the project to renovate some aspects of the town’s premier performance space finally got underway.
Pro-Auditorio’s proposals for improvements to the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago were approved by the federal government in May 2011 and a brisk community fund-raising program began.
Funding for the project will come equally from the community, the state and the federal governments to the tune of about three million pesos.Construction work was delayed when it was discovered that the original plans were in need of more detailing.
The contractor estimates that he will require 50 working days to complete the upgrade work that includes new electrical wiring, new stage lights, dimmers and lighting controls, as well as an overhead catwalk to support the stage lights. There will be a new lower ceiling over the stage and the installation of a number of sound-reflecting panels over the stage and on the side of the hall. New and less noisy air conditioning units will also be installed.
According to the contractor, crews will work continuously, taking just two days off at Christmas and two days at the New Year.