El proyecto estrella de Escrivá elimina despachos de directivos en el Banco de España

El Banco de España's star project is set to eliminate offices for senior executives within its Cibeles headquarters. The ambitious undertaking, spearheaded by Governor Jos� Luis Escriv�, necessitates the reconfiguration of spaces across the sprawling building that houses the historic institution's main office in Cibeles Square. This process will involve the removal of numerous desks, an action still under definition and reserved for top-level personnel, including directors general, assistant directors general, department directors, and division chiefs.

If implemented, the proposal would eliminate desks for all other executive ranks, sparking concerns among those affected about the implications on confidentiality during phone or video conferences. Escriv�, known for his anti-desk stance during his tenure at Airef, the tax authority, is vehemently opposed to the removal of desks.

The Bank employs 3,486 staff members, with 14 distinct levels in its executive group. The extent of personnel affected remains uncertain due to the architects' design, but the building's extensive space of over 115,000 square meters ensures potential relocations. The complex, after its latest expansions, occupies an entire block with more than 115,000 square meters of available space.

The institution also operates another less prominent building in Madrid's Alcalá street, where most of its operational personnel work. Last year, Spain selected Estudio Herreros to design the museum, which will showcase over 3,500 artworks and one of the country's most comprehensive numismatic collections. The museum, set to open in 2029, features the gold room, a heavily armored chamber 35 meters underground with 2,500 square meters of space, massive doors, and an inundable access pit through two underground streams.

The gold coins, however, remain in a secret location within the building, as secure as the iconic armored room itself. The total cost of the museum's construction remains undisclosed and will be financed by the Bank's budget, opening fully in 2029.