Building spaces for scientific and biomedical research requires much more than construction knowledge. These are highly complex technical environments where precision, interdisciplinary coordination, and adaptability are essential to meet the needs of the teams working within them.

During this past year, at CALAF Constructora, we have participated in some of the most significant biomedical research projects being promoted in the country. These projects share high technical demands, the integration of specialized facilities, and the need to work with the highest standards of quality and control.

This experience is reflected in four projects linked to leading institutions: the new Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) building, already completed, and the Únicas Sant Joan de Déu, CaixaResearch Institute, and the new Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) projects, currently under construction.

Four different projects, but with the same purpose: to create spaces prepared to generate knowledge, drive innovation, and facilitate the breakthroughs that will contribute to improving people’s lives.

Because behind every laboratory, every collaboration space, and every scientific infrastructure, there are teams researching, innovating, and working to respond to major health challenges.

CALAF Constructora, together with FACSA and INIMA, has joined the new company Servei d’Aigües Metropolitanes de Barcelona, S.A. (SAMEB), which will bid for the tender of the water supply service in eight municipalities of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. This concession will serve approximately 230,000 inhabitants and represents the most significant contract in the water sector tendered to date in Catalonia, with an estimated value exceeding 1,078 million euros.

The concession includes the management of the service in the municipalities of Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, La Palma de Cervelló, Molins de Rei, Ripollet, Sant Andreu de la Barca, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Tiana, as well as the development of an ambitious investment program to renew, improve, and modernize existing infrastructures. This project aims to consolidate an efficient, resilient, and sustainable management model, capable of guaranteeing water supply with criteria of quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

An Alliance with Technical Capacity and a Vision for the Future

The creation of SAMEB responds to the desire to offer a solid operator with the technical, organizational, and financial capacity to undertake a concession of this magnitude and duration. The combined experience of FACSA, INIMA, and CALAF Constructora forms a team with a consolidated track record in the water cycle, from the execution of infrastructures to the management, operation, and maintenance of networks and hydraulic systems.

In this context, CALAF Constructora contributes over sixty years of experience in public works and hydraulic infrastructures, as well as a deep knowledge of the metropolitan territory. This trajectory allows us to contribute effectively to the challenges of renewing, improving, and modernizing supply networks, providing technical rigor, execution capacity, and proximity.

Commitment to an Essential Service for Society

The SAMEB project is based on a service concept rooted in proximity, transparency, and commitment to the general interest. We understand water supply as an essential infrastructure for the well-being of people and the sustainable development of the territory.

Being part of this initiative reinforces CALAF Constructora’s commitment to the development of strategic infrastructures that contribute to improving the quality of life and building a more sustainable future. We continue to work to provide efficient and responsible solutions, aligned with our purpose of building differently to generate a positive impact on society and the environment.

CALAF Constructora is part of the DCaS-R – Circular Data as a Service for Waste project, a pioneering initiative that has launched a federated data space to improve the traceability and circular management of materials and waste in the construction sector. The project, funded by the European Union through Next Generation EU and with the support of the Government of Catalonia, aims to prepare the sector for new regulatory demands and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable and digital models.

The data space being developed allows information to be shared in a standardized, interoperable, and secure manner among constructors, waste managers, transporters, valorizers, and administrations. At its core is the Digital Waste Passport, a tool that digitizes the traceability of materials generated on-site and automates environmental indicators, such as carbon footprint or water footprint, thus facilitating data-driven decision-making.

In the DCaS-R pilot, real data from construction sites, transport processes, and treatment plants is being integrated, validating a common data model, a shared governance system, and connectors that allow information exchange among stakeholders with different levels of digitalization. This framework will enable the generation of reliable evidence that will be useful for certifications, audits, and compliance with regulations evolving towards the traceability and verifiability of construction products and materials.

The project consortium is coordinated by Blue Room Innovation, which leads the technical design of the data space, the digital architecture, and the development of the Digital Waste Passport. In addition to CALAF Constructora, partners include inèdit (with the development of the environmental quantification system), CELSA Group, and FERIMET, which contribute expertise in waste classification and valorization. The Catalonia Waste Cluster (CREC) – in collaboration with the Catalonia Waste Agency (ARC) – validates the governance model and ensures the project’s alignment with sector needs.

Through this collaboration, CALAF Constructora reinforces its commitment to innovation, digitalization, and the circular economy, actively contributing to promoting more efficient and sustainable practices in construction and waste management.

CALAF Constructora has been recognized with the EMAS Catalunya 2025 Award in the category of Best Stakeholder Engagement for the Construction Site Offices project, an initiative that transforms traditional construction site cabins into sustainable, healthy spaces designed for people’s well-being.

The EMAS Catalunya Awards, organized by the EMAS Club with the support of the Government of Catalonia, annually recognize organizations that promote continuous improvement in environmental management and innovate in their engagement with stakeholders. The award ceremony, held in Barcelona, brought together companies and institutions committed to sustainability and the progress of the Catalan business community.

The Construction Site Offices project has stood out for its ability to transform a functional space into a model of environmental and social innovation. Designed and developed through an internal ideas competition, the project involved teams from different areas of CALAF Grup and the collaboration of external experts in energy efficiency and spatial design. The result is a new modular, reusable, and efficient model conceived as a climate shelter for teams working on construction sites.

This recognition “highlights the value of collaborative work and the commitment to improving the daily lives of people in the sector, demonstrating that construction can be a space for innovation, sustainability, and human quality.”

The EMAS Award consolidates CALAF Grup’s trajectory as a company committed to sustainable innovation, resource circularity, and people’s well-being, reaffirming its purpose of contributing to dignifying the construction sector and building a more responsible future.

The new Vithas Barcelona Hospital , located in Esplugues de Llobregat, has been officially inaugurated. This center is already considered a new benchmark in the healthcare sector in Catalonia and throughout Spain.

From CALAF Constructora, we have had the honor and responsibility of leading its construction, culminating in a project that represents a step forward in the understanding of healthcare and hospital infrastructure.

The new hospital features over 39,000 m² of surface area and facilities that combine technology, design, and comfort. The building includes:

• 160 adapted individual rooms,

• 14 state-of-the-art operating rooms,

• 12 intensive care units,

• 24-hour Emergency Department for adults and pediatrics,

• A comprehensive portfolio of medical and surgical services,
• Specialized institutes in oncology, cardiology, neurosciences, ophthalmology, and maternal-child care.

Vithas Barcelona Hospital also stands out for its sustainable construction model and commitment to the environment. The center has been designed to achieve maximum energy efficiency, reaching carbon emission neutrality for gas and electricity consumption.

Some of the measures implemented include:

• Use of eco-friendly materials,
• Prioritization of natural light in all areas,
• High-efficiency air conditioning and ventilation systems,
• Universal accessibility,
• Integration of digital technology in care and management processes.

This approach positions the new hospital as an example of sustainability and social responsibility in the healthcare sector, providing high-quality care in a comfortable, accessible, and safe environment.

CALAF Constructora has been recognized with the KOBAH Award for Excellence in Lean Construction for the New Building of the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). This award highlights the work carried out on this emblematic building, where the Lean methodology has been applied to optimize processes, eliminate waste, and maximize value for the client.

This recognition is the result of the effort, involvement, and commitment of the entire team that participated in the project, and it consolidates CALAF Grup’s dedication to efficient, collaborative, and results-oriented construction. Congratulations to everyone who made it possible.

We continue building with rigor, innovation, and added value!

At CALAF Grup, we have always believed that innovation begins with a simple question: how can we do things better?

This concern led to an internal ideas competition focused on continuous improvement. Among the proposals, one resonated strongly: improving site offices . These spaces, designed to be provisional, were often uncomfortable and inefficient, failing to reflect our approach to construction or our values of sustainability and well-being.

From Idea to Reality

Based on this proposal, we created a cross-functional team with professionals from different areas of the group —construction, technical, sustainability, and architecture— and with the collaboration of experts from UPC and energy efficiency and space design studies. The key question was:

What would a site office look like if we prioritized well-being and sustainability?

The answer was the development of a new modular, demountable, and reusable prototype: a healthy and efficient space, capable of adapting to different contexts and functioning as a climate refuge, both in summer and winter.

The College of Technical Architecture of Barcelona (CATEB) has recognized the work of CALAF Constructora with the Catalonia Construction Award 2025 for Best Project Management for the project of the VHIR – Vall d’Hebron Research Institute building.

This award highlights the rigor, coordination, and commitment of a team that has worked with passion to create a unique space dedicated to research and health.

The Award for Project Management – Site Manager has been awarded to Carles Bermudo, Ivan Coviella, Àlex Rodríguez, Josep Ramon Lluch, Xavier Álvarez, Enric Baucells, Òscar Marín, Carlos Montes and Toni Sicilia, from CALAF Constructora, for their work on the VHIR project.

The jury highlighted their technical capability, foresight, and absolute commitment to impeccable execution in a highly complex project. Key aspects highlighted include:

• The willingness to carry out all necessary tests.
• The ability to anticipate unforeseen events.
• Close collaboration with the construction team.
• The desire to incorporate the essence of Collserola into the building.
• The intelligent use of testing to optimize each phase of construction.

All of this makes this project an example of excellence in project management, where foresight, attention to detail, and long-term vision have been crucial for success.

A building dedicated to science and society

The new VHIR building is not just an architectural work, but a space for scientific transformation designed to improve people’s lives.
It is a project that reflects the values defining CALAF Constructora’s approach to construction:

• Proximity with the client and teams.
• Responsibility and commitment to quality.
• Sustainability in every stage of the process.
• Excellent management, now recognized with this award.

At CALAF Constructora, we understand construction as a tool to change the society we live in. Receiving this award reaffirms that we are on the right track and encourages us to continue working with the same passion and responsibility.

Would you like to know more about our projects?

Discover all our projects and see how we build the future.

Calaf Grup presents its new corporate purpose with a 2-minute video that highlights its work culture and its impact on the region: “We build differently to change the society we live in.” This purpose reflects an approach based on technical excellence, people-oriented innovation, and environmental responsibility. We invite clients, partners, and the community to discover how this approach translates into more efficient, sustainable, and socially impactful projects.