The new Center of Athens

The new center of Athens is finally here. Sorry for not posting the steps in between, but we were so busy that we even didn’t have time to eat.

It all started as a decision of the students of the teachers course of the Athens center, that we would like to move to something bigger so that to give the chance to more people to be able to attend the courses.

Due to the circumstances, after we have found the new place, we had to prepare it in almost 1 month.

The initial structure of the place, was 3 empty floors.

It was a difficult task because most of us had our jobs and we had to find time or sacrifice even our jobs at some point in order to have the center ready. Everyone helped in the best possible way to fund this task and I am very thankful to everyone for that. A lot of the equipment and decorating stuff was brought at the center from students (they used to had it at their homes) and I would also like to thank for that.

I would like to thank a lot the teachers’ course students as well as a few from the Gnostic Wisdom course students that helped with this task:

Men team: Igor, Stathis, Alexandros A, Leonidas, Christos V, Alexandros E, Christos G, Costas, Labros, Giorgos.

Women team: Enti, Venia, Kaliopi, Georgia, Christina, Maria, Eirini, Nikoleta,

However although the number of people sounds large, the daily team that worked every day was from 2 to 4 people and not during the whole day.

It was a great lesson for all of us. We had to go through difficult situations, cooperate in a harmonized way and speed up things without sacrificing the quality of the work. Of course mistakes happened, but I think all of us more or less got a lesson during the process.

So here is the final result:

Floor 1:

• Lounge: Can fit comfortable 10-14 people. A library also exists in this room, comfortable coaches, and a desk with a computer for someone to do work.
• Dining room with kitchen: Can fit about 30-40 people. Also a corner of it plays the role of our little ‘gift shop’ inside the center. Music is also available in that room.
• 2 storage rooms
• 1 multi purpose practice/lecture room: Can fit about 40-50 people. It has integrated projector screen and projector, as well as a stereo system and a laptop.
• 3 toilets (1 for men, 2 for women)

The whole area was fitted with ventilation and air-conditioning system, so that fresh air to be inside all the rooms.
Floor 2:
Main lecture room: Can fit 80 to 100 people. Fitted with equipment for video and audio as well as video projection, and a computer, plus a small stage where interesting events will take place soon… Air conditioning system is available to that room.
Floor 3:
3 advanced courses practice rooms: Can fit about 15-20 people each. Air conditioning system is available in all rooms.

Since 95% of all this work was done by us, most of us had to learn how to do a lot of things and without previous experience for some of us. All this one month process had as a result to now have a fully trained construction team.

From electrical, to wall building, even door building, to painting, to plumbing, woodcraft etc, all of those things, with some exceptions, were done by us.

Now we are ready for our next goal, which is the Greek Retreat – and a few more intermediate goals that will be announced soon!

Thanks to everyone for their help and support and especially Mark and Edith for their guidance! Enjoy the photos.

Ioannis

How it was

The main floor

Another view of the main floor

The stairs going downstairs

The underground floor

This is where the big practice room will be built

Another view of the underground floor - big practice room

Upper floor

Another view of the upper floor

More upper floor.

The one toilet that was there.

The works

Labros, Costas and Alekos painting the big practice room

First stages of building the walls at the underground floor

A very special room at works..

The garden - the first steps by Labros, Giorgos and Alekos

Building from wood a podium - It has just finished here

Building the cross from pine tree

Leonidas painting the entrance doors

Igor working on the main floor gates for the two floors

The main lecture room at the beginning

Works at the main lecture room

Christos G and Alekos working at the main lecture room almost ready

Piping the underground floor

Christos G workint at the big practice room

Giorgos, Giannis and Alekos working in the lounge

Stathis and Igor working at the lounge

The final result

The stained glass in the entrance to the third advanced courses practice room

The entrance to the third advanced courses practice room

Cafe and Dinning area

Another view of the cafe. You can see the kitchen.

Entrance to the upper floor for the advanced courses

Womens advanced courses room

Big practice room

Corridor to the big practice room

Entrance to going downstairs

The gift shop

The main lecture room

Another view of the main lecture room

A panorama of the main lecture room

One of the toilets...

The library of the lounge

The lounge

The lounge again

A panorama of the lounge

The mens advanced courses practice room

A mosaic made by Stathis for the ladies advanced courses practice room

A mosaic made by Stathis for the big practice room

A mosaic made by Stathis for the mens advanced courses practice room

A painting of the main lecture room

Another one

Michael killing the demon - from the main lecture room

Going downstairs

An eagle of the main lecture room