The €2.4 million renovation works at Ausiàs March School in Benidorm have been awarded
The project, with a 12-month completion period, includes structural renovations to the school, as well as significant improvements in accessibility, energy efficiency and climate contro
Ausiàs March School in Benidorm to undergo €2.4 million comprehensive renovation
Benidorm City Council’s Local Government Board has awarded the contract for the comprehensive renovation of the public Ausiàs March Infant and Primary School to the temporary joint venture (UTE) AZUCHE-AZIA BENIDORM. The project has a budget of just over €2.4 million and a completion period of 12 months.
The city’s mayor, Toni Pérez, explained that the contract, awarded through an open and standard procurement procedure, will enable structural reinforcement works, improvements to the building envelope, greater energy efficiency, improved accessibility and climate control, as well as upgrades to evacuation systems, facilities and communal areas, among other measures. The aim is to “address the deficiencies affecting the building and adapt its facilities and services to current needs.”
The mayor recalled that “we committed to the school community that these works would begin in September, and we are continuing to work towards that goal.” He also stated that the project will involve “practically every department and space, both in the Early Years block and in the Primary section, significantly improving the condition of the school and the day-to-day lives of students and teachers.”
Benidorm City Council will carry out the project through the Generalitat Valenciana’s Plan Edificant, with an investment that was increased by €600,000 last April over the amount initially allocated, in order to incorporate all the requests and suggestions put forward by the school community.
Toni Pérez stressed that the renovation of the school “not only addresses the requests that have been put forward, but also fulfils the commitment we made,” adding that since taking office as mayor in 2015, the council’s commitment has always been to carry out improvements at Ausiàs March, “although for other administrations — referring to the regional government led by the PSOE and Compromís — it was not a priority.”
Improvements
As already mentioned, the comprehensive renovation of Ausiàs March School “will involve practically all the rooms, spaces and systems in the building, both in the Early Years block and in the Primary section.” Looking at the project in greater detail, in the Primary building, the project includes reinforcing the entire floor structure to address the deficiencies identified in 2014, which in 2014 led to several classrooms being closed and subsequently supported with temporary structural props.
“The Botànic government, led by Ximo Puig, committed in 2016 to addressing these deficiencies, stating that it was a priority project, as was the case with IES Pere Maria Orts i Bosch. However, the reality is that they did nothing in either case, and it was not until the change of regional government in 2023 that work on both projects could be unblocked and moved forward,” the mayor stated.
The façade will also be fitted with a thermal insulation system, alongside repairs, waterproofing and insulation of the roof. In addition, all the external window and door frames will be completely replaced, including those in the Early Years building, among other measures included in the project.
In addition, the building will be fully equipped with a heating and cooling system, including air-conditioning and ventilation capable of maintaining a comfortable temperature in classrooms and other communal areas throughout the year, both in summer and winter. This work will also benefit the Early Years section, which already has heating radiators and air conditioning in some classrooms. Some of the air-conditioning units currently installed in the Primary building could also be relocated there.
n terms of universal accessibility, the school will be equipped with an accessible lift in each building, ensuring barrier-free vertical access. This will be complemented by the adaptation of the ground-floor toilets in both buildings and the installation of ramps in accordance with universal accessibility regulations.
The project also includes several additional works, including the renewal of the electrical installations; upgrades to the telecommunications infrastructure to improve the school’s digital and ICT systems; the renovation of the outdoor sports court surfaces; the construction of a covered walkway connecting the buildings; and the repair and refurbishment of interior spaces, including the replacement of partition walls, finishes, flooring and suspended ceilings where necessary, improving standards of hygiene, strength and durability.
Finally, the dining hall and kitchen will also be renovated, while the former caretaker’s house will be refurbished and converted into a multipurpose room, further expanding the school’s facilities.
Toni Pérez concluded by stating that “the renovation of Ausiàs March School is now a reality, much to the dismay of some, just as is the case with Pere Maria Orts i Bosch Secondary School, where work is already at a very advanced stage.” He stressed that this situation “stands in stark contrast to eight years of zero investment in public education in Benidorm by the regional governments of the PSOE and Compromís.”