Regional Government awards contract work for the completion of Pineapple Culture Interpretation Centre
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, awarded the contract work for the completion of the Pineapple Culture Interpretation Centre on São Miguel Island to the company Caetano & Medeiros – Sociedade de Construção e Imobiliária, Lda., with a base value of 310 thousand Euros.
With a completion period of 200 days, the contract work was awarded under the tender launched, following the termination of the previous contract due to the company's inability to continue the works and conclude them.
The project includes the recovery and expansion of a building located in the centre of the village of Fajã de Baixo in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, where the first pineapple plantations started; they were subsequently expanded to the municipalities of Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo.
The location of the building will gain a new impetus due its location in the Church Square, next to two emblematic buildings of recognised heritage value: Nossa Senhora dos Anjos and Fonte Bela Manor. Its privileged location offers tourists the possibility of visiting other places on the island that are also related to the pineapple culture.
The main access to the Pineapple Culture Interpretation Centre is located the west façade, while the access ramp for people with disabilities is located on the east façade. Both lead to Entrance Hall, where the reception desk is located. This room also include a space for the sale merchandising products related to the pineapple culture, which will complement the contents provided in the exhibition area.
The centre will also have a Reading Room to be installed on the first floor where there will be a small library with books and documentation directly related to the theme of this Interpretation Centre.