An obsolete factory in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona has been carefully restored by Spanish architectural studio b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos (b720). Once the Simon electrical material factory, the building has been transformed into Simon’s new corporate headquarters.

The headquarters integrates over 350 employees previously dispersed across two offices into one unified campus. The rehabilitation preserves the concrete structure of the mid-20th-century industrial building while introducing new elements to support its function as a corporate hub, promoting openness and connectivity with the surroundings.

Simon was first established in 1916 in the Catalonian town of Olot. The heritage brand is a specialist in electronics, providing technical solutions for lighting, connectivity, and electrical equipment. Electrical switches are one of Simon’s trademark products: the revamped Barcelona headquarters is symbolically named SWITCH, an acronym for “Simon Worldwide Innovation Talent Community Hub”. 

The restored building retains its regular reinforced concrete grid — porticoes, ribs, and slabs — while selectively removing outdated masonry and enclosures. The interventions maintain visible traces of repair, allowing the materiality and history of the concrete to remain legible.

Blending industrial heritage and modern innovation

The 10,160-square-metre headquarters was completed by b720 in collaboration with Estudi Antoni Arola, Estudi Jordi Tamayo, Katty Schiebeck Studio, and MMAS Lighting. When transforming the premises, b720 ensured the project retained the original factory’s architectural essence while introducing modern elements necessary for its new role as a corporate headquarters. 

The conversion contributes to 22@Barcelona, an urban regeneration project that has transformed approximately 200 hectares of former industrial land in the Poblenou neighbourhood into an innovation district.

By recovering the factory building, the project establishes a connection between preserving the neighbourhood’s industrial heritage and its readiness to be transformed. The new Simon headquarters enjoys a more open relationship with its surroundings, unlike the old factory which was relatively closed off from the city.

Urban infrastructure

The building’s lower floors are accessible to the public, while its upper floors house a series of workspaces. The upper floors open onto the city via glazed apertures that b720 describes as “more than just windows”. They have an architectural depth and symmetry that strengthen the building’s presence and serve as a form of urban infrastructure. The windows are designed to facilitate the assembly of short-term installations that will enhance the building’s participation in neighbourhood events, for instance Llum BCN, an annual light arts festival held in Poblenou.

Materials and efficiency

The facade employs prefabricated technological cassettes integrated into the existing concrete grid. These units incorporate aluminium frames, glass balustrades, and high-performance glazing, offering insulation, solar control, and natural light management. The new elements are designed to be visually distinct yet harmonious with the concrete’s patina, highlighting the building’s structural rhythm while improving occupant comfort.

Extending the concrete grid’s lifespan

In its approach to rehabilitating the factory, b720 carefully prolonged the useful life of the building’s reinforced concrete grid. The original Simon factory’s concrete structure features a regular grid of porticoes, ribs, and slabs on the interior, while the facade has a neutral, repetitive lattice that is a window, sunshade, and support all in one.

To determine which interventions were necessary, b720 began with a diagnosis of the building’s state. Lesions in the concrete were carefully repaired and certain areas were chosen for demolition to generate new communication and work areas. Any traces of the interventions are not hidden but can be seen as subtle nuances in the concrete’s materiality, akin to scars that become integral to the building’s history.

Taking advantage of the concrete grid, b720 removed old masonry cills and any enclosures no longer in use. “The openings are transformed by incorporating a new cassette-type element capable of reconfiguring this interstitial space in a simple, elegant, and repetitive manner that, at the same time, meets the technical requirements demanded of it,” explains the studio.

A deep aluminium frame protects and regulates the perimeter of the opening, integrating a glass balustrade. This new glazed enclosure provides high insulation and solar control performance. The frames are concealed, creating a clean void that encourages light and reflection. 

Adaptive reuse in an industrial setting

The Simon factory retains its original layout and construction, featuring bright, open spaces. Newly configured routes and vertical cores have been added, along with upgraded facilities and equipment. The roof has also been repurposed as a communal garden space with photovoltaic panels. Intelligent management is used to optimise the building’s efficiency.

With its blend of industrial heritage conservation, modern eco-efficiency, and social sustainability, SWITCH provides an example for the adaptive reuse of industrial buildings.