The UDA committed to the invaluable heritage of Cuenca: presentation of the structural proposal to reinforce the temple of Santo Domingo
On May 14 at the Church of Santo Domingo, the University of Azuay together with its Publishing House and civil UDA, presented the project “Analysis and structural reinforcement of the Temple of Santo Domingo”; event that is framed within the fulfillment of the sustainable development objectives, mainly objective 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
The event was attended by authorities, teachers and administrative staff from our university community, authorities and members of Santo Domingo, teachers and students from different educational institutions and the general public.
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as the Church of Santo Domingo, is an outstanding heritage of Cuenca, being the second largest church in the city. Its construction began at the beginning of the 20th century and it houses valuable works of art, including murals, paintings and sculptures dating from the 16th century, along with other religious relics.
This eclectic building stands out for its two 40-meter-high neoclassical towers, built with handmade brick, tile roofs and wooden floors, among other distinctive elements. However, following an earthquake in 2023, the church suffered significant structural damage requiring urgent intervention due to its heritage value.
The structural analysis revealed that the masonry walls, although traditional, present vulnerabilities to seismic forces. For this reason, a cooperation agreement has been established to carry out studies of soil mechanics, seismic danger, environmental vibration and destructive tests to guarantee the safety and preservation of the church.
The welcoming words were given by Francisco Salgado Arteaga, rector of the University of Azuay, who mentioned that a joint effort has been made to preserve this heritage jewel of the city and emphasized that without a doubt a large part of the city's identity of Cuenca is in the temples and domes of its historic center.
In turn, Monsignor Marcos Pérez Caicedo, archbishop of Cuenca and chancellor of the University, who expressed his satisfaction with the project presented, pointed out the importance of caring for and renovating this building that for years has been shown as an emblematic church of our Cuenca.
For his part, Fray Jorge Jiménez Jiménez, superior of the Santísimo Rosario de Cuenca, addressed those present expressing his gratitude for this joint work and for the support provided to carry out this great project.
Finally, José Vásquez Calero gave a technical explanation about the project presented on behalf of the authors.
