2023-12-19 05:14:00
the essentials The project which took place within the Léo-Lagrange association was completed a few weeks ago. Many spaces have been renovated with a more than honorable result. Follow the president, who tours the premises.
The works of Léo-Lagrange – the multi-activity structure in the center of Foix – are finished and it is a success. The old premises have become tastefully renovated spaces, equipped with elegant contemporary furniture. Special mention for the second floor reserved for youth hostel type accommodation. The rooms are worthy of a mid-range hotel.
The work was launched in January 2023 and will be completed in September. “But the project started on January 24, 2019,” recalls Serge Lovéra. The president of Léo continues: “This focused on four areas: the creation of the project house, the rehabilitation of tourist accommodation, the renovation of the multipurpose rooms and the accessibility of the floors for people with reduced mobility” . After the idea, the studies followed, as well as the search for funding.
In the end, the project amounted to €1,420,000 including tax distributed as follows: 29.6% State, 20.1% Le Léo, 14.1% region and department, 6.7% national family allowance fund , 9.9% holiday vouchers, 5.5% urban area.
An elevator installed
When everything was together, work began on the first and second floors, in an annex, all at the same time for eight months. Le Léo, which hosts many activities every day, had to organize itself. “We were able to occupy the Limonaderie room, and other rooms in the city center. The city also lent us premises on rue des Moulins, just like the youth center on rue Delcassé. We fought to ensure that the social center maintains its activities”. Faced with these upheavals, the association lost some members but “many played the game”. The young people from the Apprentice Training Center, who lived in the accommodation section, were accommodated at the Foix campsite.
The project house was made up of two merged studios. MHD
Everyone’s patience was rewarded. Users now have completely renovated rooms, with all contemporary comfort. The president and director Thierry Portet tour the premises. To reach the second floor, you take a glass elevator, installed to make both levels accessible to people with reduced mobility. The beautiful monumental stone staircase has been repainted for uniformity of colors.
“Everything was demolished”
The second level is reserved for overnight accommodation, with several rooms to share or not according to your wishes like in a youth hostel. “Here and on the first floor, we demolished everything, there were only four walls left. It made two floors, or 400 m2. Everything was brought up to standard, electricity, floors, fire,” describes the director.
To access the rooms, you must have a “hotel-like” badge. The interior is stunning and large, some hotel rooms have less charm. The beds are made of wood in a somewhat medieval style, with curtains to guarantee privacy. The bathroom offers the most modern comfort. The four-bed rooms have a mezzanine. One is completely duplex with a stone wall, “that’s the suite,” jokes Serge Lovéra.
New configuration
The first floor is devoted to activity rooms. Here again, we enter with a badge. “It avoids key problems, I won’t tell you the set of keys that the director had,” confides the president. Parquet floors, new furniture, insulation, everything is clean. In a room, facilitators work with children in a pleasant working environment.
At the end of a corridor, we arrive at the multipurpose room. “We created two additional rooms by taking the director’s office and creating a veranda, after reducing the terrace,” explains the president. Furthermore, as a novelty: a removable partition was installed between two rooms. “Thanks to this new configuration, we gained 70m2 more for the first level,” rejoices the president. The Project House was created by merging two studios, now offering 45 m2 for meetings and digital workshops. “We chose to do without two rents,” he notes.
The director has taken over the concierge room which has been transformed into offices. This is the building outside Léo, which adjoins rue Peyrevidal. Users now benefit from a beautiful setting as a playground.
New court for 2024
At the beginning of January, Léo will once again resume work, which this time will concern the courtyard and its 300m2. A tree and flowerbeds should be planted. The outline of the facades will be decorated with climbing plants. The bitumen should give way to a permeable covering, to accommodate three stages as always. The project should be completed at the end of May.
1702963385
#Renovated #spaces #LéoLagrange #Foix #multiactivity #association #visits #places