Adaptive Reuse and NZEB Renovation of the Former Imperial Tàrraco Building: A Public Sector Lighthouse for Circular Urban Regeneration

The Tarragona Provincial Council proposes the full circular rehabilitation and NZEB transformation of the former Imperial Tàrraco building (7,076 m²), an underused 1975 structure strategically located in the city centre and physically connected to the existing Síntesi headquarters. The project will consolidate more than 600 public-sector staff into an integrated, energy‑efficient administrative campus, avoiding land take and prioritising urban regeneration over new construction.

The intervention acts as a lighthouse for circularity in the construction sector, applying adaptive reuse, selective deconstruction, lifecycle‑based material choices, envelope upgrades, passive optimisation, and renewable energy systems. It targets NZEB performance, with voluntary evaluation of ZEB‑aligned criteria, and will pursue an internationally recognised sustainability certification (LEED, VERDE, DGNB or equivalent).

Designed as a scalable demonstrator, the project supports both calls by:

• Showcasing circular economy models at building and district scale

• Serving as a public-sector testbed for innovative construction solutions and pre‑commercial procurement (PCP)

• Improving the building’s urban integration and civic function through participatory processes

• Creating a replicable governance and procurement framework for cities pursuing net‑zero transformation

This flagship regeneration project positions Tarragona as a frontrunner in sustainable construction, circular resource use, and climate‑neutral public infrastructure.