Saint Meinrad monastery renovation to begin in May

This spring, work will begin on a project to make extensive repairs to the 32-year-old monastery at Saint Meinrad Archabbey.

The project will include several major components: replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; replacement of the plumbing system; renovation and additions to the infirmary area; and modifications to the pantry.

A mechanical study of the monastery, completed in August 2012, revealed significant failure of the mechanical systems, but the monastic community was not in a financial position to undertake the repairs at that time. Since then, positive gains from Saint Meinrad’s financial investments have made it possible to begin the project in 2015.

The work is expected to get under way in May. During the anticipated 14 months of the project, the monks will relocate to rooms normally used by students on the Saint Meinrad campus.

The monastery, which was built in 1980-82, is the home to about 90 Benedictine monks.