The Council, owning 93% of the site, will invest a minimum of 51.8 million euros, with 27.2 million from municipal funds, to convert 11,528 m² into a human-impact facility. This comprehensive plan aims to create a community innovation ecosystem where the social economy, food technology, art, and inclusive housing mutually reinforce each other.
The Steegmann, Birkhead, and Paul buildings will become a social inclusion and cohesion center spanning over 4,500 m², offering assisted housing and complementary services in collaboration with the Fundació AMPANS, with an investment of 24 million euros. Additionally, a project competition will address the rehabilitation of the Nau Klein building (2.5M€), alongside a concession for managing the social and solidarity economy (ESS) hub with a further investment of 7.5M€.
The Shield building will be activated as a business incubator for the techno-food sector, the Barcelona FoodLab, in partnership with Mercabarna and Barcelona Activa. These new additions will join the Johnston and Foseco buildings, which are already operational as Creation Factories.
The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, highlighted that the project aims to generate employment and prosperity, offering alternatives with a social and alternative perspective on the economy. "We want this project to be an innovation hub that showcases different ways of economic growth, with a stronger social focus," he stated, emphasizing the coexistence of economy, culture, and housing while preserving the city's identity.
The municipal project, which involves collaboration with other public administrations like the Generalitat de Catalunya and entities from the social and business sectors, aims for full operation by 2029.
