Office space leased in Barcelona’s 22@ technology district doubles, hitting 93,000 m², thanks to telecoms and AI

Barcelona’s 22@ district is regaining momentum. One example of this is the 93,000 m2 of office space leased last year, which is 32% of all such operations in the city (291,000 m2) and twice as much as the previous year. These figures are from the latest Transparency 22@ report by real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield.

So, the district has rebounded from the hard knock of the pandemic and subsequent rise in remote working. The real estate consultancy believes that this business area has regained its appeal as a hub for strategic companies, as much of the office space uptake has been driven by companies in IT, telecommunications, video games, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and the life sciences.

It is also worth noting that this boost in office leasing activity in the district, which is home to 21% of Barcelona’s total office stock, has affected overall availability, dropping from 22.5% to a still high rate of 19.1%. Nevertheless, development in the district continues, with 90,000 m2 of new office space currently under construction and set to hit the market between now and 2026. This reflects growing confidence in the sector’s short- and medium-term prospects.

Finally, in terms of investment, the 22@ district attracted €26.5 million in office-related transactions and €32 million in land acquisitions. Looking ahead to this year and next, forecasts are quite optimistic, expecting strong investor demand from international capital and family offices. According to the consultancy, this will be an opportunity to firmly consolidate the district, not only as a business hub but also as a vibrant, attractive urban and social environment.