Magical Lodge Options

[mycerius]

I have been looking into creating a lodge for my adept (soon-to-be mystic adept). There are currently 3 adepts in our groups focusing on various areas. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find answers to a couple of questions.

First, is a use of Ritual Spellcasting required to set up a lodge? Nowhere does it say it is needed, but SR4A p178 says:

Once the supplies are gathered, the magician must complete an activation ritual that will "awaken" the lodge and construct its astral presence.

Ok, fine. Is that just fluff text or is the Ritual skill really used? If it's used, what threshold is needed? Personally I would rule that yes it is needed with a threshold of the Force of the lodge. But that is just my opinion. I can't find anywhere that says the skill is actually used.

Second (and this is conditional on the answer above), if the skill is not used can any adept (or Awakened for that matter) be part of the activation ritual, regardless of tradition? I would assume no; but again, nowhere does it state otherwise.