The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering will open the 2026–2027 academic year with the cantata 'Cerdà: la força de la civilització' (Cerdà: The Power of Civilisation), held in the Auditorium of the Vèrtex building on the North Diagonal Campus in Barcelona. Composed by Albert Guinovart with text by writer Esteve Miralles, the piece was selected for the Ildefons Cerdà Year 2026 to honour the life, ideas and legacy of the civil engineer considered the founder of modern urban planning as a scientific discipline.

The event, which will be broadcast live on the UPC’s YouTube channel, will feature addresses by Oriol Escardíbul, Secretary General of the Ministry of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia; Francesc Torres, rector of the UPC; Montserrat Guàrdia, president of the Board of Trustees; Neus Cónsul, general secretary; and Esther Real, director of the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB). Also taking the floor will be student representatives Pau Argiz, president of the UPC Student Council, and Ivan Hidalgo, president of the Civil Engineering School Student Delegation.

Capacity is limited. Prior registration via the online registration form is required.

A leading school in Civil Engineering

With over 50 years of history, the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering is a leading centre for research, knowledge and technology. Currently, it offers three undergraduate degrees, 12 specialist master's degrees, three Erasmus Mundus master's degrees, two joint master's degrees and 8 doctoral programmes. This academic year, the School is training more than 1,800 students, has over 300 lecturers and researchers, and 21 research groups.