Extension of the Prado Museum

The extension of the Prado Museum marked the greatest transformation in the gallery’s history, more than doubling its floor space and providing it with new exhibition spaces, dining areas, a library and visitor facilities. The central feature of the project was the construction of the so-called Moneo Cube, built at the rear of the historic Villanueva building, next to the Cloister of the Hieronymites, which was dismantled stone by stone, restored and integrated into the new museum complex

The project presented a high degree of technical complexity due to its location in the very heart of Madrid, the lack of space for storage and manoeuvring, and the proximity of historic buildings of great heritage value, particularly the Church of San Jerónimo el Real. These circumstances necessitated careful planning of the foundations and construction processes, as well as the implementation of strict control and safety measures throughout the project

ERSIGROUP was involved in the construction of the reinforced concrete structure and the foundations using pile caps and diaphragm walls, supplying and installing highly complex prefabricated reinforcement. Of particular note was the manufacture of reinforcement cages for T-shaped diaphragm walls, up to 32 metres deep and weighing 19 tonnes, as well as cages for piles and pile caps up to 1,800 mm in diameter. The industrial prefabrication of the reinforcement allowed for optimised timelines, improved quality of execution and a reduction in the risks associated with on-site work

Drawing on its experience in unique projects and in environments of high heritage sensitivity, ERSIGROUP provided industrialised construction solutions that facilitated the completion of one of the most significant cultural extensions ever undertaken in Spain, ensuring high standards of quality, safety and technical precision

KEY MILESTONES:

• The largest extension in the history of the Prado Museum
• Construction of the iconic Moneo Cube as the centrepiece of the extension
• Integration and restoration of the Cloister of the Hieronymites
• Installation of special T-shaped formwork
• Formwork frames weighing up to 19 tonnes and 32 metres deep
• Industrial prefabrication of formwork for piers, piles and diaphragm walls
• Use of mechanical splicing systems to facilitate assembly and concreting
• Work carried out in an urban and heritage environment requiring the utmost sensitivity