Palma plans its trade fair grounds: it will be designed by a Barcelona-based firm and will cost 39 million euros

PalmThe mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, presented on Wednesday the winning proposal in the architectural design competition for Palma's future trade fair grounds, which will be located between Son Ferriol and Son Llàtzer. The project will have a direct cost of 33 million euros, to which another six million will be added for complementary facilities and infrastructure. An allocation of 11 million euros has already been reserved in this year's budget, while the remainder will be included in subsequent fiscal years. Martínez expressed his confidence that other administrations will also become involved in financing the project. During the press conference following the meeting of spokespeople, the mayor explained that 24 high-level proposals were submitted to the competition, only one of which was not selected. The winning team is the Barcelona-based firm Vivas Arquitectos. According to the schedule planned by Cort, the project will be put out to tender in 2026, construction will begin in 2027, and it is expected to be completed in 2029.

Martínez highlighted that the jury, comprised of representatives from Urban Planning, Infrastructure, and Mobility, as well as architects and members of civil society, valued the project's "simplicity and impact," its integration with the surroundings, and its energy efficiency. The future venue will be able to host trade fairs, conferences, cultural events, exams, and competitive examinations, among other activities. The mayor noted that Palma is the only provincial capital without a trade fair center and emphasized that this new infrastructure, which will be publicly managed, will contribute to projecting a modern and competitive image of the city, while also boosting economic diversification.

The project encompasses a total of 41,200 square meters (m²) of constructed area, half of which (21,000 m²) is designated for parking and storage; the remaining 19,000 m² is for the fairgrounds. This building will house 10,000 m² of exhibition space, while the remaining area, of similar dimensions, will be dedicated to restaurants, bars, offices, and other complementary spaces. A large outdoor courtyard is also planned. The fairgrounds building can be divided into up to three separate sections, allowing it to host "three large-scale events" simultaneously with a maximum capacity of 8,000 people, the mayor stated. Among other spaces, it includes a 220-seat auditorium, conference rooms, presentation spaces, and multi-purpose rooms, as well as a restaurant and bar area, which will be offered for concession.

As for the parking, it will have an approximate capacity of 700 spaces. The mayor has indicated that there is more parking outside the site and that the new train station will also include more.