Refurbishment and Sustainability: The Faro Building in Madrid
You can see an example of refurbishment and sustainability in construction today in the Méndez Álvaro area, the Faro Building stands as an example of urban and architectural transformation. Located at Calle Retama 3, it’s not a new build, but rather the result of a comprehensive refurbishment of a 1993 structure, completed towards the end of 2024. Driven by the French investment firm Ardian and designed by the GCA Architects studio, with CBRE managing its commercialisation, this intervention represents an investment of around €25 million.
The decision to comprehensively refurbish an existing building to achieve high contemporary standards (Grade A), rather than building anew, reflects a trend towards the revaluation of existing building stock and the principles of a circular economy, considering the scarcity of new prime locations. The name “Faro” (Lighthouse) refers to a place that “guides, orients and cares for the people who inhabit it”, a concept linked to user-centric design, materialised in certifications such as WELL Gold.
This article analyses the architectural characteristics of the Faro Building, its context in Méndez Álvaro, its sustainability aspects, and explores the role of BIM methodology in its development.
Méndez Álvaro: A Developing Business Hub
The transformation of Méndez Álvaro is a significant urban development in Madrid. From an industrial past, it has evolved into an important business centre attracting companies, thanks to its strategic location within the M-30 ring road and its high connectivity (intermodal station, proximity to Atocha) in Madrid.
This development is evident in a concentration of contemporary architectural projects: the Repsol Campus (Rafael de La-Hoz, 2012), the Acciona Ombú headquarters (Foster + Partners, 2022) with a refurbishment focused on sustainability, the Madnum Campus by Colonial (Estudio Lamela) a mixed-use complex, the Spanish headquarters of Amazon, the future GCO tower (Grupo Catalana Occidente), and the refurbished Faro Building (GCA Architects).
The diversity of architectural firms involved (De La-Hoz, Foster, Lamela, GCA) creates a diverse urban landscape. The proliferation of projects with high sustainability certifications (Faro, Madnum, Ombú) indicates that environmental performance and well-being are increasingly in demand in this submarket.
The Vision of GCA Architects: Refurbishment, Sustainability and User
The refurbishment of the Faro Building sought to “refurbish the existing building respecting the rhythm and urban landscape” and to “create a new architectural benchmark”. The result is a 14-storey tower with approximately 13,600 m², reinforced by a new external skin of aluminium louvres to optimise solar control, with consultancy from ENAR.
It incorporates 870 m² of outdoor terraces, notably on the 3rd floor and the penthouse, featuring native vegetation selected by the landscape architects Herbanova, an approach focused on biodiversity and water efficiency.
Internally, the offices offer flexible floor plans with raised access flooring and partial suspended ceilings, aiming to maximise natural light. Sustainability is a central aspect, with target or achieved certifications such as LEED Platinum, BREEAM Excellent, WELL Gold, and Zero Carbon. Achieving these seals simultaneously reflects a holistic approach that addresses energy, water, materials, waste, air quality, and well-being. This achievement was supported by consultants such as Deerns (LEED) and ATEI Ingenieros (MEP).
User facilities include access control, smart lifts, recycling facilities, 24/7 security, parking with provisions for electric vehicles and personal mobility devices, a gym, a gourmet space, and multi-purpose areas, all sized for an occupancy density of 1:7.
The Role of BIM: A Digital Tool in Refurbishment?
The question arises as to what extent Building Information Modelling (BIM) was used in the refurbishment of the Faro Building. The publicly available information is inconclusive. However, we know that companies like SOCOTEC, a participating engineering firm, describe themselves as working with a BIM environment, and that a press article from November 2023 links the building’s sustainability standards to the use of BIM by GCA Architects, but without detailing the source. GCA Architects mentions the general use of “BIM digital tools” in their sustainability approach.
This lack of clear public confirmation about the use of BIM in a recent and advanced project invites reflection on the documentation and dissemination of technological case studies in the AECO industry.
Despite the uncertainty, the Faro Building is a case where the application of BIM could be particularly beneficial. The transformation of a 1993 structure into a building with certifications like Zero Carbon and WELL Gold presents a complexity that BIM can address, especially in uncertain refurbishments.
BIM could have offered (and presumably did offer) significant advantages such as precise modelling of the current state, a faithful digital model (possibly via laser scanning) as a reliable basis for design. Also, a means for coordination and clash detection in the integration of systems (MEP by ATEI, facade by ENAR) with the existing structure in a coordinated 3D model, to resolve conflicts virtually.
A BIM model for sustainability analysis would have facilitated the analysis of energy, lighting, and materials, among other aspects, to achieve and document LEED, BREEAM, and WELL certifications. 4D planning would have allowed for the visualisation and optimisation of the refurbishment phases, while cost estimation (5D) from the model would have generated accurate measurements and helped control the €25 million budget. Finally, lifecycle management (7D) based on the creation of a digital As-Built would have enabled efficient Operation and Maintenance (O&M), connecting with the “Faro” philosophy and the WELL requirements.
BIM as a Catalyst in Office Refurbishments
The strategic value of BIM in high-performance office refurbishments is notable. It acts as a collaborative platform, improving integration between the teams involved in complex operations such as that of the Faro Building.
Tangible benefits of adopting BIM have been documented: improved design quality (visualisation, simulation), reduced errors and rework (clash detection), increased certainty in costs (5D) and timelines (4D), and increased overall efficiency.
In sustainability, BIM’s role is important for integrating complex analyses (energy, lighting, lifecycle, carbon footprint) from the initial phases, facilitating informed decisions and the documentation for demanding certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, or WELL.
In Spain, the adoption of BIM is increasing, especially in building and refurbishment, although challenges remain. Projects like the Faro Building, with high demands, could particularly benefit from a mature adoption of BIM. Advanced applications such as Digital Twins (BIM 7D) offer potential for optimising long-term O&M, ensuring the building operates efficiently.
Perspectives of the Faro Building for the BIM Community
The Faro Building is an example of the potential of architectural refurbishment, transforming a 90s structure into a modern, sustainable, and user-centric office building, contributing to the consolidation of Méndez Álvaro as a business district.
Although the specific implementation of BIM is not publicly confirmed, the complexity of the project and its high standards make it a relevant case study where methodologies like BIM offer significant value and are increasingly relevant. Achieving such results without digital support would be, today, poorly conceived.
The Faro Building invites reflection on how BIM can address the challenges of contemporary architecture, especially in sustainable urban regeneration. The need for greater transparency in communication about technological application remains an important aspect for collective learning and the improvement of the AECO sector.