The expansion of the Hospital Clínic has already been cleared. The complex, which will be built on the UB sports grounds, will integrate teaching, healthcare and research activities to become one of the most important biomedical fields in Europe.
The complex will have a total area of 290,000 square meters. But in reality it is not a completely new construction, it is the extension of the health center using all the space of the sports courts of the University of Barcelona, UB, on the Diagonal.
The Department of Health, the Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Provincial Council, the University and the hospital itself concluded that it was the most suitable space.
In deciding on the new location, the entities assessed all points of view, especially urban planning and mobility.
They also analyzed the amount of space available, as well as the capacity of the site to be able to concentrate all the biomedical activity.
The expansion will make it possible to create a true multidisciplinary health park.
The best biomedical campus will be built on UB’s sports fields
It will be one of the most important biomedical campuses in Europe, as well as a major knowledge hub.
The Faculty of Medicine is also planned to be relocated to this space, together with the installation of research buildings.
The decision is considered the first step towards the creation of a leading, intelligent biomedical center of national and international reference.
The next step is to set up the work teams to finalize the project financially and technically and to define the implementation schedule.
Likewise, modifications will have to be made to the General Metropolitan Plan to make the expansion of the Hospital possible.
The new location will link this area of Barcelona with the neighboring municipalities of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Esplugues de Llobregat. With this, it is also expected to rescue the forgotten Can Rigal park and open the possibility of creating a new neighborhood.
A dilemma unresolved for more than 20 years
The relocation and expansion of Hospital Clínic has been an unresolved issue for more than 20 years.
And all because of its current location (in Eixample Esquerra), which for many years was small and outdated for the work that is done there.
Lack of space has hindered the growth of a leading and expanding medical service, as well as the integration of the latest innovations and technological improvements.
But with the new decision, space will be freed up in a district with a high density and lack of green space, as well as public facilities.
They also agreed to repurpose the hospital’s current location to meet the needs of educational, medical and fire department facilities.
