The emblematic property, known as the Tres Xemeneies de Fecsa-Endesa, which became disused in 2012, is being transformed into a 22,500 m² office complex with panoramic views, to be named 3X Paral·lel. The works, which commenced this April, are progressing steadily in Poble Sec, aiming to complete the metamorphosis within a year and a half.
Developer Conren Tramway acquired the building in 2017 and, after extensive negotiations with the Barcelona City Council, formalized an agreement in 2022 to equally share the 22.5 million euros in capital gains generated by the urban reclassification. The company has confirmed the start of the works, which are managed by SANJOSE Constructora.
“"We are recovering a building very present in the memory of Barcelona residents, which has been part of the city's history and identity, and transforming it into a new hub of activity, adapted to current needs. It is a way of returning this space to Barcelona and starting a new stage for Paral·lel and its surroundings."
The project, designed by the Barcelona-based firm Batlleiroig, includes a triple-height lobby that will connect work areas with common spaces such as an agora for events, meeting rooms, multimodal parking, and a gym. The twelve upper floors will be dedicated to offices, featuring large windows and outdoor terraces offering views of Barcelona's skyline. The building is expected to achieve LEED Platinum certification for its sustainability measures.
In addition to the main building, two smaller properties at the base of the chimneys also have a defined future. One, near Cabanes street, will house offices for Red Eléctrica Española and a facility. The other, known as Llac and located next to the park, will be transferred to the city council to host the new headquarters of CECOR, the city's police and emergency coordination center. This new, more modern and central location will be inaugurated in the next term, with works planned for 2026 and opening in autumn 2028, with an estimated budget of 25 million euros.
Conren Tramway's contribution to the city also includes a 6.6 million euro allocation for facilities and social housing in the neighborhood, and 2.7 million for redeveloping the square and gardens of the Tres Xemeneies, an area that had been a "black hole" for residents during years of abandonment. The city council has implemented sports promotion activities and restricted painting walls, a decision that has caused indignation among the graffiti community.
