Enric Ruiz-Geli, College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS) Professor of practice, and his interdisciplinary team are currently building the new CaixaForum public museum in Valencia, Spain. This cultural and multipurpose center will consist of an area of more than 70,000 square feet (6,500 square meters) to enhance the original concept of the Àgora building. Led by Cloud 9 studio, an innovative architectural proposal, which won the competition in 2018, is characterized by being an open space that optimizes the use of clean energy. Despite the pandemic, construction work carried out by the contractor Soriguè are well on their way to being complete and the opening is scheduled for Spring 2022.

With more than 20 years as an architect-activist, Ruiz-Geli has been part of Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies since 2018. This project focuses on the importance of creating a world of "living cells", which are in the main building of the Agora, that will maintain its protagonist role. The final space will have two large exhibition halls located in the central part of the ground floor and will create a grandstand that acts as the space of dialogue. CaixaForum Valencia will also have an auditorium, multi-purpose classrooms, a family and educational space, a bookstore, and a restaurant. The space will include the option of an art exhibitions, conferences, concerts and shows, social events, educational and family workshops, and activities.

Professor Ruiz-Geli states, “One of my priorities is the environmental sustainability of the projects and I started from the fundamental concept that there is already an iconic building there, the Àgora, created by Santiago Calatrava. I chose to respect the essence of the building, I wanted to spotlight this large area and make it open to dialogue and cultural activity. It is a public space that makes possible a dialogue not only between people but also between buildings. It is a living space that comes from a living, vivid, and collective intelligence.”