UPF campus expansion reaches a historic milestone as demolition begins on the last remaining military housing blocks in Ciutadella.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The university is clearing the final vestiges of Barcelona’s former military fortress to make way for new academic facilities and green spaces.
Transforming Military History Into Academic Future
The demolition marks the culmination of a 33-year transformation process that began when the Ministry of Defence transferred the entire military complex to Universitat Pompeu Fabra in 1992. Consequently, the university has gradually converted former barracks into faculties for Economics, Political Science, Humanities and Law.
Pablo Pareja, the university’s vice-rector, explains the significance: “With this final gesture, we complete our intervention in the Ciutadella campus and fulfil one of our primary missions – to transform our surroundings.” Furthermore, this development represents the complete eradication of the fortress originally built to suppress Barcelona after the War of Succession.
The university had to wait patiently for the building to become fully vacant, a process that took nearly three decades. The last resident – a military descendant who lived alone – moved out three years ago, following earlier relocations negotiated by the university.
New Spaces For Academic Innovation
The demolition will create a 3,300-square metre plot adjacent to the former Mercat del Peix site, where the Ciutadella del Coneixement research centres will emerge by early 2027. These facilities will eventually host approximately 1,200 researchers working across disciplines.
Meanwhile, the newly cleared space will address several pressing needs within the UPF campus expansion. “We don’t have many spaces where they can work, and it’s quite a large group of more than 1,000 people,” Pareja notes regarding planned accommodation for doctoral students.
The university also plans to create more interactive spaces for students and dedicate 30% of the land to green areas. “Our students and the entire community have long claimed, rightly so, that we’re an urban university that’s very well connected but has few outdoor spaces, which we’ll have to create,” Pareja acknowledges.
Additionally, the university may allocate space to expand the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, which researches Alzheimer’s disease and currently operates within the campus. The institution will launch a design competition for the new buildings, aiming for completion by 2029.
This significant urban transformation follows other major developments in Barcelona’s educational landscape, including the recent revelations about hidden passageways beneath Plaça Catalunya that showcase the city’s layered history.
The UPF campus expansion represents Barcelona’s ongoing commitment to repurposing historical spaces for contemporary needs. As the city continues to evolve its urban fabric, such projects demonstrate how educational institutions can drive both architectural preservation and forward-looking development.
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates and news!
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | X
Source: Read original article
