The Education Department begins the long-awaited construction of the Pere Maria Orts i Bosch Institute in Benidorm, with an investment of 12.9 million euros

The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Regional Minister of Education, Culture, Universities, and Employment of the Valencian Government, José Antonio Rovira, attended the signing today of the deed marking the start of construction work on the Pere Mª Orts i Bosch Secondary School (IES). The contract was awarded for €12,888,556.50 and will transform the city's oldest IES into a "modern, 21st-century" educational facility. "This is a historic day for this school, for the educational community, and for the entire city," stated the mayor, who also indicated that "there will only be one day more important than this: the day when students and teachers take possession of the new facilities, thus returning to the normality we have been waiting for for many years."

The project for the new Pere Maria Orts i Bosch High School, designed by COR Architecture + Design and executed by the Vialterra Infraestructuras S.A. joint venture, involves the demolition of the old classroom building built in the 1970s, which has serious structural damage, and the construction of a new one in its place. The building will be located parallel to the one built during the 2009-2010 academic year and will also be renovated and updated. This will eliminate the 22 prefabricated classrooms installed in the courtyard, improving learning conditions for the more than 1,360 enrolled students. The estimated completion time is 18 months.

The renovation and expansion of Pere Maria High School began in 2009 and, with 85% of the work already completed, was halted in 2010, with several subsequent starts and stops, with little progress on the project. The last of these was in 2018, when work was never resumed until today, despite the City Council's numerous demands on the previous regional government, formed by the PSOE and Compromís parties. "From the first day I took office as Minister of Education in 2023," stated José Antonio Rovira, "Mayor Toni Pérez has constantly insisted that we should complete a project that is very important for Benidorm and this Regional Government and that, therefore, has been a priority for President Carlos Mazón's Council," after which he stated that "that is why it is a source of pride to be able to begin it today."

For his part, the mayor recalled that "15 years have passed since the first project was halted" and that, "once those bankruptcy issues were resolved, we tried by every means to ensure that the Pere Maria High School received timely and appropriate support," requesting its inclusion in the various phases of the Edificant Plan without success. "Today, finally, the Pere Maria High School is once again, in fact, included on the Council's priority list."

Toni Pérez also pointed out that the new secondary school "will be the most innovative in the entire Salt de l'Aigua educational complex and in the entire Marina Baixa region" and recalled that "there have been several generations of students and teachers, many educational communities that have been harmed over the years and who dreamed of days like today, so we have no choice but to say 'finally' and reaffirm that the City Council will be fully available to ensure that these works proceed smoothly and are completed on schedule."

For his part, the director of Pere Maria Orts secondary school, Nacho Gascón, also reiterated this message: "Finally, since 2009, when this Pere María project began, we have seen the start of works that we hope will be definitive this time, and that we will soon cease to be a prefabricated secondary school and become the most wonderful secondary school in Benidorm."

Some facts about the project

In addition to the mayor and councilor, the Benidorm City Councilor for Education, Maite Moreno, also participated in the visit and the signing of the construction commencement certificate. The director general of Educational Infrastructure of the Generalitat (Generalitat), José María Larena, along with technicians from the regional government, the contractor, the school, and other municipal government representatives.

The project to adapt and complete the Pere Maria Secondary School covers a total built area of ​​11,029 square meters and 9,063 square meters of open space available to students. In addition, the project also includes the construction of play areas for secondary school students, gardens, sports courts, porches, and a vegetable garden.

The new building will consist of three floors above ground level: a ground floor plus two upper floors, which will house teaching spaces, general services, restrooms, administrative spaces for the school, and other spaces for complementary uses. The centre will be made up of three volumes: two large, parallel buildings connected by walkways and the existing gymnasium.

It will also have 20 classrooms for Compulsory Secondary Education, eight for Baccalaureate, two additional classrooms for Secondary Education, and eight for Vocational Training, as well as a cafeteria and a caretaker's residence.

The construction systems used guarantee compliance with the most modern energy standards defined by current regulations. Regarding the facilities, an air conditioning system using Air Handling Units (AHUs) has been designed for all rooms with cooling/heating and ventilation capabilities, ensuring proper air renewal.

Likewise, a system using aerothermal equipment has been designed to supply hot water to the gymnasium and cafeteria and photovoltaic panels to provide the centre with renewable energy.

Minister Rovira emphasised that the design of the new IES "prioritises energy efficiency, healthy materials, and environmental integration." Thus, the façade will be made of exposed brick with thermal insulation and sun protection adapted to the orientation; the materials are free of toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds); and wood will be used in the interior for greater acoustic comfort. It will also feature perimeter vegetation to reduce the climate impact and create healthier spaces.

The project will not only improve the facilities but will also optimise mobility with separate access for pedestrians and vehicles; it will promote social cohesion through open spaces and community exchange areas; and it will comply with the standards of the Edificant Plan, ensuring accessibility and safety. “This project combines architectural innovation with functional efficiency and sustainability, reflecting the Generalitat's commitment to educational infrastructure in the Valencian Community. The new Pere Mª Orts i Bosch High School will also be a benchmark in pedagogical innovation, ensuring an optimal environment for students and teachers,” stated Rovira.

The regional minister concluded that in these first few weeks, during which construction work and students will still be underway until the end of the school year, “all demolition work will be carried out manually.” The demolition phase using machinery is scheduled to begin in the summer and last approximately three months, coinciding as closely as possible with the summer holidays. This will minimise disruption to the educational community at this school and the rest of the schools in Salt de l’Aigua.