On 25 February 2025, the city of Granollers hosted a visit from 16 students enrolled in the City Resilience Design and Management International Master's program at UIC Barcelona. Led by Professor Lorenzo Chelleri and his research team, the visit was organized to explore Granollers' ongoing urban development and climate resilience strategies, particularly those being implemented as part of the UP2030 project.
The day began with a panoramic view from the top of Josep Umbert Street, where the students were introduced to the city’s co-creation approach and vision for transforming underused spaces. Equipped with a guided route map, the group visited several key locations showcasing Granollers’ integrated efforts in sustainability and urban transformation.
Among the highlights was the renovation of Avinguda Sant Esteve, a 19,000 m² project designed to enhance walkability, cycling infrastructure, and urban greenery, while reducing traffic lanes to improve connections between transport hubs and the city centre. The group also visited the Escola Municipal del Treball, where energy rehabilitation measures - including photovoltaic installations - are being implemented to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Another stop featured the city’s Bioenergia project, which transforms heating systems in 12 public buildings using locally sourced biomass, cutting over 330 tons of CO₂ emissions annually and significantly reducing maintenance costs.
The students also explored the Granollers Connecta Natura (CocoNat25) initiative, which includes various ecological actions across the city. Further examples of sustainable urban interventions were seen in the Primer de Maig and Instituts neighborhood, where traffic is being reorganized to prioritize pedestrians and green spaces have been significantly expanded. The visit concluded with a look into the Safe and Healthy School Environments project, which uses interactive tools and story maps to visualize improvements in student safety, CO₂ reductions, and mobility data.
This visit allowed students to experience firsthand how a mid-sized European city like Granollers is turning resilience strategies into concrete, visible actions, bridging academic knowledge with on-the-ground implementation to inspire future climate professionals.
