Photo ©Timothy Soar/courtesy v2com
Galvanized and antimicrobial metals define the new international headquarters of ACCIONA in Madrid, shaping a workplace focused on health and connectivity.
Located on a 10 ha (24.7 acre) site in a central Madrid district, the workspace interiors were designed by interdisciplinary architecture and design firm Perkins&Will to reflect ACCIONA’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and well-being.
The project repurposed the site of a decades-old corporate campus, reviving the location with a verdant landscape and new facilities for approximately 4,000 employees. The campus features three office buildings, including a new one designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects with interiors by Perkins&Will, along with an auditorium and other amenities. Two of the original buildings underwent deep refurbishment, with Perkins&Will’s interior designs creating light-filled, forward-thinking environments that work with the existing structure and materials.
In the image to the right, metal supports natural lighting with a ceiling that enhances daylighting by providing a reflective surface beside floor-to-ceiling windows. When considering the WELL standards, light is one of 10 concepts that contributes to achieving certification. It ensures that building occupants have access to comfortable lighting, preventing eye strain and promoting wellness in the inherent design of a structure.
The ACCIONA Campus reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and people. Designed as a benchmark for the offices of the future, it brings together ACCIONA’s global expertise in renewable energy and infrastructure to create a workplace that fosters collaboration, creativity, and well-being. The Campus integrates advanced technology and sustainable design to inspire employees to reach their full potential while contributing positively to both business and the planet.
“By working with the grain of the existing structures and embracing natural elements, we’ve created a workspace that is both timeless and future-facing,” says Perkin&Will Design Lead Mijail Gutierrez. ACCIONA wanted a workspace that exemplifies their values and mission, and we expressed this through serene and luminous aesthetic that celebrates light, shadow, air, and water and fosters a deep connection between employees, nature, and ACCIONA’s mission to build a sustainable future.”
Designing for well-being and connection
The campus prioritizes both human experience and cross-disciplinary collaboration. It features flexible workspaces, coworking zones, and event areas that blend efficiency with hospitality. Interconnecting staircases and communal areas promote movement and spontaneous interaction, while external pavilions and terraces offer shaded retreats with fresh air and panoramic views. Dedicated zones for quiet reflection, optimized lighting with circadian rhythms, and enhanced acoustic and thermal comfort support mental clarity and physical vitality.
The interior design contrasts raw textures such as galvanized metals with refined materials, harmonizing old and new. A restrained palette of white, wood, and reflective surfaces references vernacular Spanish architecture, creating a serene and luminous atmosphere that celebrates the interplay of light and shadow.
Architectural interventions bring daylight deep into the floor plates, minimizing reliance on artificial lighting and enhancing visual comfort. Organic, sculptural forms set against the Iberian light create dramatic chiaroscuro moments, infusing the spaces with an ethereal yet warm ambience.
Innovation and sustainability at every level
The campus meets the highest environmental standards, achieving LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum certifications while aligning with EU Taxonomy. It operates entirely on renewable electricity, with on-site solar photovoltaics (PV), geothermal systems, and heat recovery technologies. Modular design allows for adaptability and waste reduction, locally sourced timber and antimicrobial metals enhance sustainability, and ACCIONA’s own low-carbon materials are featured prominently. Technological advancements include 3D-printed joinery, bespoke ceiling fans developed with ACCIONA’s innovation lab, and robotics that support security and logistics.
