Madrid’s IE Tower, which houses a university campus, could draw tourists to an overlooked part of the Spanish capital
- The building will serve the needs of 6,000 students and may help regenerate northern Madrid for residents, local workers and tourists
- The 180-metre tower was opened with Spain’s King Felipe VI in attendance, and will centralise the Madrid operations of the 48-year-old IE University
As far as top 10 lists go it’s niche, but until last month, East Asia could boast seven of the 10 tallest buildings used primarily (at least 90 per cent) for education.
Now there is a new kid on the block. Madrid’s 180-metre-tall IE Tower has muscled into 3rd place, splitting Tokyo’s Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower and Nagoya’s Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers, and pushing buildings in Shanghai, Jinan and Bangkok down a peg.
The arrival of the tower, built for the IE University, was announced at a dazzling opening ceremony on October 19 attended by the King of Spain, Felipe VI.
As well as uniting all of the university’s hitherto scattered Madrid operations under one (very high) roof, the move sees the base of the institution move to the capital from Segovia – a historic town 90km to the northwest, where IE retains a campus, in a 13th century former convent.
It’s also hoped that the tower and its inhabitants will play a significant role in regenerating northern Madrid into an area that is functional for residents and local workers as well as being a draw for tourists and other visitors to the city.