Major protagonists of the city of Madrid during the Civil War and the Republic, the San Isidoro and José Calvo Sotelo schools in the Retiro district are prepared to face new challenges thanks to the refurbishment carried out by Sorigué.

The works carried out in these two public schools are part of the Framework Agreement for Refurbishment, Repair and Maintenance Works of educational centres in the Retiro district of Madrid, through which Sorigué has intervened in a total of thirteen educational centres including nursery and primary schools, nursery schools and music schools.

CEIP San Isidoro

The origins of the San Isidoro school date back to 1903 when King Alfonso XIII inaugurated this and three other public schools in Madrid, built at the initiative of his mother, Queen María Cristina. At some point in its history the institution was called “Escuela del Congreso” and, due to its proximity to the Royal Tapestry Factory, it was the educational centre where the children of the factory’s staff were educated. In 2000, the structure had to be completely remodelled and, thanks to the works, a network of galleries was discovered that served as a refuge for the neighbourhood to protect themselves from bombings during the Civil War.

In 2008, the tunnels were completely empty, clean and accessible, but dampness has been a constant issue. For this reason, the refurbishment undertaken by Sorigué has focused above all on installing a ventilation network with two extractors and their corresponding inlet and outlet ducts. Windows and doors have also been replaced, including panic doors, the paint of the inner façade and the courtyard has been renewed and the sanitary water supply network has been replaced.

CEIP José Calvo Sotelo

In 1933, the Second Republic inaugurated 18 schools that sought to eradicate illiteracy in the city of Madrid. One of them was named “Catorce de abril” and, due to its size, it was considered the flagship of that major educational project. At the time, the building was very innovative as it had large windows in classrooms, multifunctional galleries and specific spaces for the library, gymnasium, laboratory and workshops. With the arrival of democracy, the school was renamed José Calvo Sotelo and, after the refurbishments of the past year, the Municipal Board of the Retiro district has decided to reclaim its origins with a plaque that reads: “Institución Libre de Enseñanza to put an end to illiteracy and lack of culture in the District”.

Among the actions carried out by Sorigué are the restoration of façades, pitched roofs with corbels supporting the cornice and flat roofs, the repair of the courtyard pavement and the redesign of outdoor spaces with the installation of shade sails. In addition, heating systems have been improved with new gas boilers and flue outlets.

Commitment to Madrid

Sorigué has left several significant marks in the Retiro district such as the refurbishment of the surroundings of the 11-M monument, the conditioning of the Casa de Vacas Cultural Centre in Retiro Park, of great heritage value, and the removal of architectural barriers in several streets.

In recent years, the business group has consolidated its presence in the city of Madrid through public contracts for the care of urban infrastructures, buildings, roads and all types of facilities. Currently, Sorigué is one of the companies in the urban services sector with the highest number of public contracts.