Architecture students visit Santa Cruz de La Palma to design a Conference and Exhibition Center on the island
The exercise is carried out together with students from seven Latin American universities in COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) format.
21 | 01 | 2026
In 2021, the eruption of the Tajogaite volcano on the island of La Palma caused damage to homes, land, and natural areas on the island. In response to this natural disaster, the Higher Technical School of Architecture launched a project rebuild and rehabilitate the area in collaboration with the Cabildo de La Palma, in which students work on proposals to contribute to the development affected area. In this fifth edition, the exercise consists of designing proposals for a conference and exhibition center in Santa Cruz de La Palma.
The project, led by the University of Navarra, is part of the American Forum, a joint initiative of the Pan-American Federation of Architects Associations (FPAA) and the School of Architecture at the University of Navarra. Students from seven universities in six Latin American countries are participating in the exercise, which has been carried out in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) format.
From January 15 to 18, architecture students took part in an academic stay in Santa Cruz de La Palma to visit the area where their proposals will be located. On Friday, January 16, the presentation ceremony forthe fourth edition of COIL "Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones en Santa Cruz de La Palma" (Conference and Exhibition Center in Santa Cruz de La Palma) took place at the Salazar Palace in the capital of La Palma. The session was attended by the mayor of Santa Cruz de La Palma, Asier Antona, and the president of the Cabildo Insular de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, and culminated with a lecture by Mariano González, Full Professor the Higher Technical School of Architecture of the University of Navarra, entitled "The Conference Center as a hybrid container and its urban prestige."
The program has included the participation of students from Andrés Bello Catholic University (Venezuela), Latin University of Costa Rica (Costa Rica), Santa Cruz de la Sierra Private University (Bolivia), Catholic University of Santa Fe (Argentina), Latin University of Mexico (Mexico), ISTMO University (Guatemala), and University of Navarra.
