The Santo Domingo church needs 4,1 million dollars to solve structural problems

Some 4,1 million dollars are required to carry out the structural reinforcement of the Church of Santo Domingo, a heritage asset whose current status is "precautionary", according to an investigation carried out by the University of Azuay (UDA).

The results of the study are collected in the book 'Structural reinforcement project of the Temple of Santo Domingo', which was delivered to the Archdiocese of Cuenca and the order of Santo Domingo.

The budget includes:

• Preliminary works: $23.128,38
• Wall reinforcement: $3
• Reinforcement of domes: $538.313,68
• Structure shoring: $345.650,40

“The UDA Civil team has carried out an in-depth analysis that lasted a year, after the March 2023 earthquake, and proposes making the necessary efforts to achieve the recovery of the temple,” said Francisco Salgado, rector of the UDA. .

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, better known as the Church of Santo Domingo, was one of the structures affected by the 6,5 magnitude earthquake recorded on March 18, 2023. Cracks, material detachment, and a sunken ceiling were evident. and removal and damage to pillars.

“The current state of the temple is precautionary. However, if a strong earthquake occurred there could be a serious collapse that would lead to the loss of a heritage asset, which is why it is necessary to make an effort to save it,” said the rector.

The building, of an eclectic character, consists of two towers in its 40-meter-high belfry, with a neoclassical style.

Its construction is made of handmade brick, brass tiling, handmade tile roofs and wooden floors, mostly and it has some marble columns. These construction characteristics make it a unique heritage building.

Damage

José Vázquez, one of the authors of the project, explained that the study has identified areas of vulnerability after the damage caused by the earthquake. The fragile areas are located in the center of the church, the towers and in the internal part of the central nave.

"The temple presents cracks. Most of the arches, right in the middle, are cracked; even in both directions in the central vault, as in the façade. There are the two towers, the domes, but in the middle it has been cracked" , he pointed.

He added that for the execution of the project the least invasive intervention possible is considered to preserve the heritage.

For the study, architectural plans drawn up in 2008 for the Municipality and directed by architect Fausto Cardoso, consultant in heritage areas, were used. This made it possible to make a digital model of the temple and a simulation to observe the functioning of the structures.

Among the options for reinforcement, the use of micropiles and internal anchored tensioners in the masonry walls is considered.

This method has already been used in heritage works such as the recovery of the 'Teatro León' in Riobamba and in the temple of 'San Francisco de Quito'.

The study carried out by the UDA took a year and has been reflected in books. XCA

Projection

The execution of the project is scheduled to take place within a period of two years.

Monsignor Marcos Pérez Caicedo, archbishop of Cuenca, pointed out that the funds are expected to resort to international cooperation, as well as citizens, companies and public and private organizations.

“It is a job that will not be done only by the Dominican Order, nor by the Catholic Church, but by all citizens and the country. We call on national and foreign, public and private institutions, because this heritage belongs to Ecuador, not only to the church,” he assured.

The archbishop added that the Santo Domingo church was one of the most affected by the March 2023 earthquake.

“There were also others, but they are already being repaired, such as the Baños church, where the respective work was done. In Sinincay and Pucará they are undergoing construction and we are also maintaining the new Cathedral,” he explained.