This project will expand the Institute's facilities from the current 1,308 m² to 3,122 m² in the new building, spread across four floors. The new premises will accommodate the ICAC's growth since its establishment in 2003, featuring new laboratories, workspaces, classrooms, storage areas, and equipment to bolster scientific activity and advanced training. Spaces for public outreach and knowledge transfer are also planned.
During an event in Tarragona, the director of the ICAC, Josep Maria Palet, highlighted that the new infrastructure will foster the Institute's three core activities: excellent research with international reach, advanced training, and knowledge transfer. The expanded spaces will support research groups, enhance laboratories, and aid in attracting and retaining research talent.
The ground floor will include areas specifically designed for scientific dissemination and social knowledge transfer, reinforcing the ICAC's commitment to open access and societal return on research. Furthermore, the M6's location next to the future Paleochristian Necropolis will foster synergies between research, heritage, and culture, establishing La Tabacalera as a cultural and knowledge hub for the city.
The rehabilitation of the M6 will be undertaken by BAMMP Arquitectes, a firm specializing in industrial heritage. The works are scheduled for tender and award between October 2026 and February 2027, with execution planned from June 2027 to July 2029. The Institute's relocation is anticipated by the end of 2029.
This initiative continues the project started in 2025, when the Department of Research and Universities provided 300,000 euros for the executive project's design, and the Tarragona City Council formalized the 50-year lease of Warehouse 6. The new headquarters represent a significant advancement for the ICAC, equipping it for future growth and reinforcing its role as an international reference center in classical archaeology for decades to come.
