The construction company Ferrovial has been awarded for a total of 21.4 million euros (17.7 million without taxes) the contract for the remodeling and expansion of building B of the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Madrid to house the new headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) The term of execution of the work will be 18 months as indicated in the resolution document published on the State Contracting Platform this Friday and collected by Europa Press.
The contract received a total of ten bids, four of them from SMEs, with the lowest bid price being 17.7 million euros, and the highest being 20.8 million (without taxes). The award has been made taking into account the highest score. B of the Madrid Conference Center destined to become the new headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The project consists of a complete interior reconfiguration of the existing volume, to adapt it to new uses, with interior demolition of partitions and installations. In addition, a third additional floor will be built with new structural elements supporting the existing ones. A contemporary architectural language is sought, which differs clearly but discreetly from the mural designed by Joan Miró. The deck will have skylights to facilitate natural lighting.
An emblematic palace of Madrid
The Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Madrid was inaugurated in 1970. The Palace is made up of three buildings or construction volumes (A, B and C). It is attached to the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespaña). In 1995 there was a serious fire that caused the collapse of auditorium B and the annexed rooms located on the north façade. After the accident, the essential works were undertaken to allow the rest of the building to function without proceeding with the reconstruction of the affected spaces, an area that currently remains open and unused.
The rest of the building continued in use until 2012, when the temporary suspension of activities was decided, a decision motivated by a series of technical reports that determined that the safety requirements of current regulations were not met. The suspension ceased to be temporary to become indefinite, until all safety regulations are complied with.
Various feasibility studies have been carried out that suggest that a part of the palace (buildings A and C) or B, can be transferred to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to house its new headquarters, which is currently located on Calle Poeta . Juan Maragall 42.
Precisely, on March 25, 2022, an international administrative agreement was signed between Spain and the UNWTO, by which Spain ceded building B of the Palacio de Congresos to the UNWTO for a period of 75 years, and assumed its rehabilitation.
Green light for the works permit.
Precisely this Friday the Madrid City Council has given the green light to the license that will allow the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to undertake the reform works of the entire Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de la Castellana. The license had been requested by the Ministry, through Turespaña, on September 22, 2022, but its approval has been delayed for nine months after the request for a ‘readjusted’ project to comply with the requirements of the Commission n for Heritage Protection.
Finally, the City Council has agreed after the approval of the Institutional Commission for the protection of the Historical, Artistic and Natural Heritage. Among others, the project contemplates the restoration for 450,000 euros of the Joan Miró mural that since 1980 has adorned the main frontispiece of the building.
Closed end of 2012
The Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Madrid had to close its doors at the end of 2012 to correct some deficiencies in terms of self-protection and security, particularly in relation to the complete sectorization of the building, built in 1970, with a budget then valued at 80 million euros. At first it was calculated that the works would be finished on January 31, 2013 and that the closure would last about three months, but in October 2012 it became indefinite.
After more than 11 years closed, the Government will expand and reform a part of the Paseo de la Castellana Conference Center, corresponding to buildings A and C of the complex, which means acting on a total constructed area of 25,902 square meters, for its use as a Palace of Congresses.
For its part, building B will be remodeled to house the future headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). According to the Government’s plan, this new headquarters will have a total constructed area of approximately 9,000 square meters (1,300 square meters of new construction and 7,700 square meters of renovated area).
The project consists of a complete interior reconfiguration of the existing volume for adaptation to new uses, with internal demolition of partitions and installations. In addition, a third additional floor will be built with new structural elements supporting the existing ones. In total, 24.6 million euros have been budgeted.
