Generalitat buys part of Banco de España’s historic building in Barcelona

The Govern acquires seven floors of the landmark building in the city centre. The aim is to centralise offices and save millions in rent. Banco de España will retain its headquarters in the same building. The operation will cost €58 million.

The Generalitat's decision to acquire part of the Banco de España building in the heart of Barcelona marks a significant change for the Catalan administration and urban life. The move directly affects thousands of public employees and the management of public resources in the city.

The Govern will invest €58 million to acquire seven floors of the landmark building, located in one of Barcelona's busiest areas. Banco de España will continue to occupy its headquarters in the same building, while the Generalitat plans to move several of its offices there, currently scattered across different parts of the city and housed in rented premises.

With this operation, the Catalan administration expects to save around €4.5 million a year in rental costs. In addition, centralising services will facilitate coordination between departments and improve service for citizens by concentrating procedures and administrative matters in a single strategic location.

The move of public offices to this building is not only a logistical change, but will also affect the dynamics of central Barcelona, with a daily flow of civil servants and visitors that will revitalise the area and could influence local trade.

The Banco de España building, located in the heart of Barcelona, is one of the city's architectural and institutional landmarks. Its history is linked to the financial and urban development of the Catalan capital. Over the decades, it has witnessed economic and social transformations, and its presence in the central square makes it a hub for both banking activity and administrative life. The integration of Generalitat offices into this space reinforces its role as the epicentre of key decisions for Barcelona and Catalonia.