Summary
A planned new building for Swiss Guard barracks in Vatican City has been delayed due to increased costs. The Päpstliche Schweizergarde Foundation announced on Wednesday that the original estimated cost of 49.3 million euros would now require approximately 27.5 more million, totaling around 76.8 million euros. This decision was made after the Holy See granted construction approval in January but before securing financing. The foundation explained that additional costs were due to an increase in building prices in Rome (adding 12 million euros) and necessary modifications to parts of the project, which increased costs by nearly 9.8 million euros. The foundation will also seek contributions from Germany, where it plans to start a new fundraising campaign. The planned facade facing Italy will still be preserved, leading to additional costs and delays in construction. Foundation officials stated that foundations under each building would need reinforcement and the drainage system would require renovation. To cut costs, the Swiss Guard barracks’ original design included double rooms instead of single ones for unmarried guards, and lower-cost concrete would replace travertine as the floor material. Since 2016, the foundation has been fundraising to renovate or build new Swiss Guards’ quarters, which have been in use since their construction in the early years. The project began when the foundation collected donations from Switzerland, cantons, foundations, Catholic organizations, individuals, and companies. However, many cantons contributed less than expected. The foundation now aims to raise enough funds by the end of the year to begin construction in 2027.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Kaserne, Costs_increase
