The former factory of the Companyia Auxiliar de Comerç i Indústria (CACI), one of the last remaining vestiges of Modernisme in Badalona, is to be converted into a postgraduate and master’s intensive study centre and teacher training centre of the Barcelona University in preparation for the introduction of new educational programmes, with particular emphasis on sea sciences. The project is scheduled for completion before 2008.

The CACI building was built in 1899 by Jaume Botey, and has a total floor space of 5,400 sq m. It stands directly on the seafront, and has 6 floors that will contain 80 single and 8 double rooms to accommodate researchers from all over the world, together with a cafeteria, a refectory, lecture and exhibition halls, and an area dedicated to the sea sciences.

The new centre is extremely well located, less than 700 metres from the railway station, 200 from the harbour, 400 from Gorg underground station, and close to the motorway.