The rehabilitation project for the property, expropriated by the Campdevànol City Council in 2023, will utilize European PyrFer funds. The center is expected to be operational by the end of 2028, with initial meetings currently underway with architects to define the design.
“"It won't just be a school. There will be training, but it will be more technical and technological training. We want to train people in the technical field so they can enter the job market, but not just as workers; we want them to contribute knowledge and talent. We want this to boost the competitiveness of the region's companies."
Once the architectural meetings are concluded and a firm design is presented, the council will engage with local businesses to identify their needs. Subsequently, they will contact training entities to develop the educational project. This architectural and educational design process is anticipated to last until the end of the year.
The initial budget for the rehabilitation is 637,000 euros, with 65% covered by European subsidies. The local government is actively seeking additional funding to cover the remaining investment, exploring options such as declaring the building a local cultural heritage site.
The rehabilitation is crucial as the building, designed by Miquel Fossas, shows signs of deterioration. The City Council expropriated the property for 336,000 euros after a previous sale agreement between the former owners and the Hospital de Campdevànol fell through. This expropriation consumed a significant portion of the municipal budget during the current mayor's first year in office.
The PYRFER project, which subsidizes a substantial part of this initiative, aims to enhance the heritage of the metallurgical industry in the eastern Pyrenees. In this context, Can Branques will train individuals to contribute talent to the metallurgical companies in the area.
