Alicante City Congress Centre

The single-stage competition seeks proposals for a new 18,000m² congress and events complex along with 5,000m² offices and a 7,000m² car park to be constructed on a prominent site within the Spanish coastal city’s harbour.

The centre will feature 2,000-capacity, 500-capacity and 300-capacity events halls; a foyer, multi-purpose hall; VIP lounge; press room; backstage area for speakers and loading facilities. Proposals will need to consider pedestrian access to the site and connections to the wider city.

According to the brief: ‘The collaboration between the Provincial Council of Alicante, the City Council and the Port Authority, promotes the construction of this public facility on docks 7 and 9 of the port of Alicante, a plot of excellent characteristics, which will promote the rehabilitation of a wide port area, with the aim of converting these spaces previously linked to an industrial use related to the sea, to uses linked to the city of Alicante, its citizens and its visitors.

‘With the contest it is hoped to get the best preliminary project that, in addition to solving the functional needs, is an example that reflects the current concerns of architecture, especially sensitive to integration, sustainability and energy efficiency. And, why not, obtain an architectural reference that can become an iconic image of the city.’

Located in south eastern Spain on the popular Costa Blanca – Alicante is a busy Mediterranean Sea port and popular cruise liner stop, receiving more than 70 vessels with 100,000-plus passengers every year. The city’s port authority recently opened a second harbour basin to the south.  

Six years ago, Alicante City Council held an open international contest to re-masterplan its 20-km-long coastline which was won by local firms Grupo Aranea and Subarquitectura studios.

In 2016, the city held a design competition for a new café, meeting and communication space inside the popular Las Cigarreras cultural venue which occupies a restored tobacco factory. The winning CNC timber design by Tomás Amat Studio was inspired by a cicada insect resting in a garden space.

Submissions to the latest contest will be evaluated 35 per cent on architectural quality; 35 per cent on the functionality of the proposed building, 15 per cent on the structure’s cultural, natural and environmental values; and 15 per cent on technical and economic feasibility.

Judges will include Fuensanta Nieto de la Cierva, repsenting the Superior Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain; Antonio Ortega Godino representing the Alicante City Council; and Elisa Valero Ramos, representing the Official College of Architects of the Valencian Community.

The overall winner of the contest’s €90,000 top prize and estimated €6.7 million design contract will be announced in September. A second prize of €60,000, third prize of €40,000 and two additional prizes worth €15,000 each will also be awarded.