His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I and Her Majesty Queen Sofia officially inaugurated IESE's new Barcelona campus today. IESE has opened its new facilities, which reflect an investment of 36 million euros and cover an area of 30,000 square meters.
The King and Queen were accompanied by Spain's Minister of Industry, Joan Clos, Catalonia's Minister of Economy, Antoni Castells and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu. Receiving the King and Queen on the part of IESE was the Dean, Jordi Canals, the President of the University of Navarra, Angel José Gómez Montoro, the Associate Dean of Harvard Business School, W. Carl Kester and the President of IESE's Alumni Association and President of ENAGAS, Antonio González-Adalid.
Ceremony Attended by More Than One Thousand People
More than 1,000 people attended the event, including numerous government, business and cultural leaders. Many of these individuals are IESE alumni, who have provided financial support for the new buildings. Almost 70 percent of the investment has been covered by such donations.
At the King's request, one minute of silence was observed at the beginning of the ceremony, in memory of the two victims of the terrorist attack perpetrated at Madrid's Barajas airport on December 30.
The King and Queen toured IESE's facilities, accompanied by IESE's Dean and the President of the University of Navarra. They also greeted students, faculty and staff members, signed a commemorative book and unveiled a dedicatory plaque. A key highlight was the remarks which the King delivered to the audience. A reception followed the event.
IESE "One of the Most Prestigious Business Schools in the World"
"The school's growth took place parallel to the major economic and social developments that transformed Spain, thus catering to the growing need for business professionals," stated King Juan Carlos.
He said that IESE has succeeded in making the most of the dynamics and rich economic and business environment of Barcelona in order to create an institution that has grown to offer educational programs throughout Spain and the rest of the world.
King Juan Carlos emphasized the importance of the work carried out by Spain's universities, research centers and business schools, and said that "IESE stands out as one of the first, most prestigious and renowned business schools in Spain and abroad, whose Madrid campus he personally inaugurated in 1991." The King also praised IESE for understanding that business leadership does not merely require technical knowledge but also the will to provide solutions that meet the requirements of the market and society in a socially responsible and ethical way.
Bringing About Peace by Eradicating Poverty
Ángel José Gómez Montoro, President of the University of Navarra, explained that "IESE aims to plant a seed in the minds of its students: to promote the well-being of society through their companies and organizations and to promote developments that help eradicate poverty and low morale from society and the world at large. By doing so, the work of the business school of the University of Navarra adds to that of all the institutions that aim to bring about peace."
IESE Dean Jordi Canals said that "the members of the International Advisory Board, sponsoring companies and clients who rely on IESE for the ongoing education of their executives, act as a source of new ideas and projects as well as an important support for future investments in the school. The project to build this new campus was studied and prepared with their support. This special collaboration among businesses and IESE has played a vital role throughout the school's history."
Associate Dean of Harvard Business School W. Carl Kester spoke about the close relationship between IESE and Harvard and stated that the schools "share a common vision and mission, which is nothing less than to change the world." Since 1963, the Harvard-IESE Committee has met annually to strengthen ties and put new projects into motion, such as the creation of IESE's MBA program in 1964 and, more recently, the launch of a new program for high-level executives in China.
He also reflected on the importance of these new buildings as a physical space to house academic discussions and exchange ideas, especially in today's technology-driven learning environment.
Investment and Financing
More than half of the funding for the project, some 23 million euros, was provided by private donors including companies and alumni, while IESE financed 13 million euros. The auditorium, classrooms and work rooms feature the names of the companies and alumni who have contributed to the project. The names of all alumni who donated are included in one classroom.
The New Buildings
The new buildings, located at Avenida Pearson 28, represent a step forward for IESE. Josep Ribas González, Josep Ribas Fogueras and Berta Rovira i Mascort are the three architects behind the project, which will take the school into the 21st century.
Among the key features are a spacious lobby (which will serve as a meeting point for up to 1,000 people and covers 750 square meters), an auditorium with a capacity of 700 people and a spectacular terrace with views of the city of Barcelona.
The classrooms are designed in a U-shape, facilitating maximum contact between professors and students. The new buildings include seven classrooms, which each seat 80 students. The classrooms as well as the meeting rooms feature state-of-the-art technology, with Internet and video-conferencing connections.
Relevant Data
Investment: 36,000,000 euros
Surface Area: 30,000 m2
Features
- Auditorium with a capacity of 700 people
- 7 classrooms with a capacity of 80 people
- 50 work rooms
- Offices
- 2 spacious lobbies
- Dining room and cafeteria for 300 people
- 280 parking spaces
Speech delivered by IESE Dean Jordi Canals
Speech delivered by W. Carl Kester, Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs, Harvard Business School
Speech delivered by Ángel José Gómez Montoro, President of the University of Navarra
Speech delivered by HM King Juan Carlos I
Visit IESE's new buildings
