The commercial heart of Barcelona’s city centre is reawakening with the comprehensive renovation of the Portal del Ángel building. 

Sorigué, through its company Acsa in a joint venture with Fernández Molina Obras y Servicios, has begun the refurbishment of this unique building, a piece of the city’s historical heritage. 

The works cover 18,408 m² spread across two basement levels, a ground floor and six upper floors, with the aim of converting the facilities for commercial and office use. Handover of the project is scheduled for mid-2027. 

Built between 1926 and 1932 for the Can Jorba department store, the building was awarded first prize in the annual Artistic Buildings Competition (1927). 

The studio Ortiz.León Arquitectos has designed an intervention that preserves its exterior identity and renews the interior elements based on functionality, efficiency and comfort. 

Restoration and modernisation 

The iconic building, which housed the El Corte Inglés department store between 1995 and 2024, features a classic French-inspired style characteristic of early 20th-century Barcelona. 

As a piece of the city’s architectural heritage, the building has its façades restored to promote a dialogue with its surroundings. 

The works reinforce the foundations and structure, incorporate solutions to increase natural light, and add new features such as landscaped roofs. 

The renovation also includes the replacement of all interior joinery and the modernisation of the mechanical, electrical, photovoltaic and fire protection systems. 

With this upgrade, Sorigué reaffirms its expertise in the responsible refurbishment of heritage assets, aligned with the parameters of energy efficiency, interior comfort and sustainability applicable to buildings of this scale.