The Andalusian regional government reported that it had mobilised €120 million to carry out comprehensive renovations at 22 public buildings under the Programme to Promote the Renovation of Public Buildings (PIREP), financed with European funds. It said it had exceeded its commitments to the European Union by renovating 97% more building area than planned.
Carolina España, the regional government’s third vice-president and minister for Economy, Finance and European Funds, said work had been carried out on 193,162 square metres of public buildings across Andalusia, with energy-efficiency improvements of more than 30%. The initial target was 97,966 square metres.
España said the approach to managing public property was based on public utility, sustainability, transparency and efficiency, as well as responsible use of European funds. She said consolidating administrative offices could reduce maintenance or rental costs and allow the savings to be spent on hospitals, health centres and schools. In other cases, she said, renovations could bring activity back to urban areas.
The programme’s first phase, which was due to finish in December 2024, has been completed. Its six projects involved more than €24 million in investment and renovations to 34,762 square metres, including improvements to energy efficiency, accessibility and building functionality. Sites included the Remedios Rojo Public Employment Training Centre in Málaga, the Altamira Palace and the Levíes 17 building in Seville, a conservation and restoration building at the University of Granada’s Faculty of Fine Arts, an administrative building in Córdoba’s Plaza de la Constitución, and the Coliseo Building, headquarters of the Andalusian Tax Agency’s central services, in Seville.
The second phase is scheduled for completion in December 2026 and accounts for most of the programme, with more than €90 million allocated to 16 public buildings. Work has been completed at nine sites, including Punta de Europa Hospital in Algeciras, Málaga’s Maternal and Child Hospital, four schools, the La Caleta courthouses in Granada, the Fuengirola Palace of Justice, the Montilla judicial headquarters and the San Telmo Palace in Seville. The completed projects represent a combined investment of €51.8 million and renovations to 158,400 square metres.
Seven projects remain under way, covering administrative, educational, judicial and cultural buildings. They include Torretriana, which houses the regional ministries for Economy, Finance and European Funds and for Education, and the Andalusian public broadcaster RTVA building, both in Seville. Work is also continuing at the Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Huelva Palace of Justice, the Medina Azahara Museum in Córdoba, the Central Thermal Power Station building at Pablo de Olavide University and the Hermanos Machado administrative building in Almería.
PIREP aims to modernise public buildings through comprehensive projects that cut non-renewable primary energy consumption by at least 30%, improve accessibility and adapt facilities to the needs of public services. Projects must also include a waste-management plan to reuse or recycle at least 70% of waste generated by the work.