The Teatre Fortuny Consortium, promoted by the Reus City Council, has announced a crucial intervention for the preservation of the venue known as the 'little Liceu'. This project, valued at 186,000 euros (excluding VAT), will focus on the complete renovation of the area located above the auditorium, a space fundamental for the building's operation and safety.
The project, commissioned by the consortium, has diagnosed various pathologies accumulated over the years. These include the replacement of deteriorated elements, structural reinforcement, and improved access conditions for future maintenance in an area that has historically been difficult to reach.
Water leaks, obsolete materials, and the lack of an adequate protection system have created a risk scenario that the report describes as «serious», both for the execution of the works and for routine maintenance tasks.
The intervention becomes a priority due to significant degradations detected in the passage and work area for technical staff. The attic space, located about fourteen meters high, shows unevenness, aged joists, and pavements with reduced capacity, making the renovation essential for structural and safety reasons.
The project envisions a sectorized intervention across the three levels of the space: the sides, the horseshoe, and the upper galleries. In the side areas, most affected by humidity, all existing joists will be replaced with new laminated wood beams. In the horseshoe, old battens will be removed, and a completely new pavement base will be installed. Work in the upper galleries will depend on a detailed review, but the project already includes replacing the wooden board and installing new battens.
One of the central elements of the project is the paving. The existing chipboard, weakened by humidity, will be entirely removed and replaced with a service pavement of birch plywood, which is much more resistant and stable. This new base will be placed on a sub-structure of battens that will improve ventilation and the overall solidity.
Additionally, exceptional safety measures will be implemented, with exclusive access through the theater's interior and manual movement of materials to prevent damage. Collective and individual protection systems will be installed, along with a definitive lifeline system to ensure safe future maintenance, avoiding the current situation of difficulty and risk.
