Exterior view of the building from Esquíroz street. PHOTO:

The University of Navarra will begin construction of a new building in April, which will house the programs of postgraduate program and the headquarters final of School of Economic and Business Sciences. On a surface area of 14,596 m2, it will be located next to School of Law. Both sites will be connected, not only from the inside, but also from the outside, as they will share a single access. The design of the building is the work of the School of Architecture professor Juan Miguel Otxotorena. Its construction and refurbishment may take 22 months.

The project is marked by the redefinition of curricula and degrees brought about by the Bologna Declaration, as well as by the prominence acquired in the university world by the teaching of postgraduate program. Thus, the building will include classrooms and seminars of various sizes, aimed at small groups of students, as well as rooms suitable for the teaching of new Master's Degree and doctorate programs.

In addition to teaching uses, it will also house professors' offices and the offices of some of the University's central services.

Energy savings

When implementing this project , two basic aspects have been worked on to guarantee the environmental performance of the building: energy production and consumption, and the minimization of maintenance.

Inner courtyard of the building.

In this regard, the interior lighting will be core topic , which includes a control system using presence detectors and natural light intensity in the different spaces. This system, which saves an estimated 50% compared to ordinary consumption, maintains uniformity in the lighting, controls its intensity according to the amount of natural light provided from the outside and allows automatic shutdown when a conference room is empty.

Moreover, the project includes, from agreement with the current rules and regulations , several measures for an environmentally friendly production and recovery of energy.

The financing is provided by position of the association de Amigos de la Universidad de Navarra, which manages economic resources to erect new buildings and promote the research. This entity was constituted in 1960 and is made up of people who contribute their financial aid for the development of the University. 

agreement According to Javier Urdiales, director of association, "we will have to make a great effort in the coming months to raise the necessary contributions. We are counting on more than 50,000 graduates and six thousand friends. It seems to us that it is worthwhile, in these times of economic crisis, to help the University to carry out these projects that stimulate economic activity in Navarre, sustain the employment, and represent the most profitable investment: Education of young people, research and transfer of knowledge".