The proposal envisions the new building as a dynamic hub of knowledge open to all professionals within the campus. This open concept is reflected in both the building’s new exterior identity and its interior layout, fostering flexible spaces that encourage interaction among users across indoor and outdoor environments.
Architectural Integration // The Pujadas Building, the subject of this rehabilitation project, is part of the architectural ensemble that comprises the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu in Sant Boi de Llobregat, a campus specializing in mental health. The new main entrance links directly to the adjacent expansive green zone, allowing a smooth transition from the outdoors to the interior. This green space functions simultaneously as a public square, an outdoor waiting area, and a natural lung for the facility. The existing building featured fragmented, underutilized, and poorly oriented outdoor pockets. he proposal consolidates these areas into three distinct, high-quality landscaped spaces; a ground-floor garden, a first-floor courtyard and a second-floor terrace. Transforming these areas into qualified outdoor spaces significantly improves natural light and cross-ventilation while providing a seamless indoor-outdoor transition
Circulation Core// The main entrance is located on the southeastern facade at ground level, establishing a direct connection with the green park. A secondary entrance on the same facade leads to the first floor via the outdoor courtyard. Both entrances are tied to a newly created vertical circulation core, which serves as the main structural axis, articulating the building’s layout in both plan and section.
Daylighting// Daylighting is guaranteed throughout the entire facility by organizing all service areas around the central courtyard and the perimeter facade. This internal courtyard features a tapered section that widens toward the top, maximizing the penetration of natural sunlight into the lower levels of the building
Sustainability Criteria // The clean white finish of the envelope contrasts beautifully with the surrounding vegetation, projecting a serene aesthetic while actively reducing heat absorption by reflecting solar radiation. Sustainable transport is promoted with dedicated bicycle parking in the entrance plaza, while healthy interior pathways are encouraged through a prominent, open central staircase visible from all main spaces. Passive estrategies are developed to minimize energy demand through reinforced insulation on roofs and facades, alongside a complete replacement of the window systems to optimize the thermal envelope. Choosing to adaptively reuse and transform the existing structure rather than demolishing and rebuilding cut potential $CO_2$ emissions by more than half, championing sustainable rehabilitation. Spatial, physical, and material well-being are at the core of the project, using the new courtyards to maximize natural light and fresh air circulation, prioritizing human-centered comfort.
Technical Systems Integration // Active systems are centralized on the rooftop and integrated seamlessly into the building’s composition by extending the facade’s louvers upward, creating a clean technical enclosure for HVAC and energy production units. The choice of systems balances energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, longevity, and low maintenance. The building utilizes an all-electric infrastructure to advance decarbonization. Heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) are driven by a combination of high-efficiency chillers and heat pumps configured to optimize performance year-round. Spatial zoning managed via a centralized Building Management System (BMS) controls lighting and climate based on real-time occupancy, reducing energy waste. The system is complemented by a southwest-oriented 40 kWp photovoltaic array covering approximately 180 m² (integrated with skylights and machinery pergolas). Tilted at 5° to follow the facade lines, it generates roughly 37,000 kWh/year (11.1 kWh/m²/year), driving the facility toward its target as a Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZeB).he system is complemented by a southwest-oriented 40 kWp photovoltaic array covering approximately 180 m² (integrated with skylights and machinery pergolas). Tilted at 5° to follow the facade lines, it generates roughly 37,000 kWh/year (11.1 kWh/m²/year), driving the facility toward its target as a Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZeB).
Functional Program // The layout clearly partitions the facility into two primary programs: The Ground Floor focuses on the formative and administration area and the First and Second Floor are dedicated to the Investigation and Transference on Mental Health Center.
The Ground Floor focuses on access, communal zones, and the main auditorium. The rest of the floor splits into a training wing with multi-purpose classrooms and a private administrative area separated from public circulation.
The First Floor is organized around a central communal hub featuring a breakroom and a kitchenette. The main open-plan workspace occupies the entire western front, flanked by private offices and meeting rooms in the two wings.
The Second Floor mirrors the layout of the first floor, placing public spaces like a lecture hall and interaction lounge at the core. This floor branches into three highly specialized zones: a dedicated workspace, the laboratory, and an experimental testing area.
Flexibility //
As a research facility in constant evolution, the building is engineered for maximum flexibility to adapt to future technological and methodological shifts.
Excluding the structural circulation core, MEP shafts, and fire compartments, the entire interior relies on modular design. This allows for effortless re-partitioning using demountable walls, continuous flooring, and continuous suspended ceilings with exposed, easily accessible installations.
