Barcelona City Council has finalised a landmark property acquisition, purchasing the entire modernist building at Via Laietana 8-10 from the Spanish State for €22.35 million.
This strategic move, approved in a municipal plenary session, will consolidate administrative offices and generate significant long-term savings for the city.
Historic Building to Become Major Administrative Hub
The council will acquire the remaining 48.30% of the property it did not already own, totalling nearly 10,000 square metres.
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Consequently, the building will be transformed into a major administrative headquarters for approximately 700 municipal workers. The Barcelona City Council estimates this consolidation will save €1.66 million annually in rental costs once fully operational.
Furthermore, the purchase supports broader urban regeneration goals. By relocating services from other municipal buildings in the Gothic Quarter, the council aims to free up space for nearly 80 new public housing units in a neighbourhood under severe pressure. Additionally, it will enable the construction of a new primary care centre (CAP) in the Plaza Pi i Sunyer building.
Deputy Mayor for Economy, Jordi Valls, emphasised the council’s commitment to “recovering heritage buildings to give them economic activity.” The building, which is already undergoing an €18.7 million rehabilitation on the municipally-owned upper floors, is scheduled for completion of its first phase in October 2026.
Multi-Phase Project to Conclude by 2032
The full rehabilitation and definitive relocation of all services is projected to finish by 2032. This phased approach will allow the council to gradually move staff currently dispersed across five different buildings on Avinyó, Ciutat, and Paradís streets. The move addresses the city’s critical housing crisis, where demand far outstrips supply.
Meanwhile, the National Statistics Institute (INE) offices currently in the building will be permitted to remain for a maximum of five years following the formalisation of the sale. The plenary vote saw support from PSC, BComú, and ERC, opposition from Junts per Barcelona and VOX, and an abstention from the PP.
This acquisition is a significant step in the council’s strategy to optimise its real estate portfolio, reduce operational costs, and contribute to the revitalisation of Via Laietana. It also represents a tangible investment in preserving the city’s architectural heritage while meeting contemporary administrative and social needs.
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