Work has begun to convert the former Mossos d'Esquadra building between Carrer d'Àvila and Carrer de Bolívia, in Barcelona's 22@ area of Sant Martí, into the operational headquarters of the Regional Metropolitan Police. The project is due to finish in 2029.

For residents and businesses near the junction, the immediate local change is an active construction project at the ageing police building. Once completed, the Generalitat expects the facility to ease pressure on other police buildings in Barcelona.

Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, said the scheme will fully refurbish the existing building, which has a basement, ground floor and seven upper floors.

A larger building with new access routes

The rebuilt complex will have 13,696 square metres of floor space. A new adjoining structure and an internal passageway will connect its areas.

  • New lifts, staircases and internal transport systems are planned to improve accessibility.
  • Green roofs and photovoltaic installations will be added.
  • The building will connect to Districlima, Barcelona's district heating and cooling network.

Mossos said these measures are designed to substantially reduce energy consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.

€27.9m budget, including energy-efficiency funding

The total budget is €27.9 million. Of that sum, €16.2 million is allocated to energy-efficiency measures, which are co-financed at 40% through the Catalonia ERDF Programme 2021–2027, according to Mossos d'Esquadra.

“Improve operational effectiveness and correct shortcomings caused by the need to adapt infrastructure that was not designed for the functions it had to perform.”

That objective is set out in the works contract, which also states that the refurbishment will help decongest other police premises in the city.

CRC Obras y Servicios has been awarded the civil works, while Alamo Industrial will provide the installations and equipment.

The Generalitat bought the property in 1991. It was formerly a textile factory and required rehabilitation because of aluminosis, a structural deterioration linked to certain types of concrete; it later served as a security operations base during the 1992 Olympic Games.

Residents seeking current station information can use the Mossos d'Esquadra police-station directory.

Primary sources: govern.cat, Dep. Interior Generalitat Catalunya, infraestructures.gencat.cat. Reported by metropoliabierta.cat, elperiodico.com, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, ara.cat, lavanguardia.com, beteve.cat.