22@Network Barcelona has presented the report Transparency: 22@ District Barcelona 2025, prepared by Cushman & Wakefield, within the framework of 22@Breakfast #195, held at the Cuatrecasas building and organized by the 22@Network Barcelona association.
The report highlights 22@ as the center and leader of Barcelona’s office market, accounting for 43% of all office take-up in the city in 2025. This represents 137,000 sqm leased, double the figure recorded in 2024 and triple that of 2023. It also notes a decrease in office availability in 22@, which stands at 18.55%, and anticipates that this figure will continue to fall, reaching single-digit levels by 2028–2029.
The study also reveals that corporations choosing to locate in the district are seeking high-quality, flexible, ready-to-use spaces. This is supported by the data, as 98% of contracted space corresponds to Grade A and B+ buildings. The plug & play format is growing—accounting for 45% of transactions—as are flex and coworking spaces, which already represent 8% of existing stock.
The IT and telecommunications sectors continue to play a significant role in the district, while the presence of other strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, gaming, and life sciences is growing. Together, these sectors form an ecosystem that acts as a technological and economic hub and as a talent cluster.
The report also identifies several challenges and emphasizes the need to address them in order to continue consolidating 22@ as one of Southern Europe’s leading innovation hubs. Among these challenges is the need to promote new office supply to avoid market tensions amid growing demand. The report also highlights the importance of improving connectivity and infrastructure, advancing toward a more liveable district with more housing and services to enhance citizens’ quality of life and the ability to attract talent, and strengthening digital infrastructure to support the growth of sectors such as artificial intelligence.
Barcelona’s growth strategy is closely linked to 22@, a central element aligned with the Barcelona Impulsa 2035 Plan. The plan seeks to foster a city economic model based on innovation, sustainability, and the attraction of talent and investment.
The document was presented by Javier Bernades, Chairman of the Urban Planning and Territory Committee of 22@Network Barcelona and Head of Offices EMEA at Cushman & Wakefield. “22@ once again demonstrates its central role in Barcelona’s office market, consolidating its position as the main focus of demand attraction, particularly for companies prioritizing high-quality spaces. The combination of strong demand, increasingly limited supply, and a constrained pipeline paints a picture of growing tension that, in the coming years, will drive both development activity and rental growth. At the same time, the district has the opportunity to continue evolving as a complete urban environment, where connectivity, housing availability, and service quality will be key factors in maintaining its competitiveness and its ability to attract talent and investment,” he stated.
Héctor Bros, Secretary of the Board of Directors of 22@Network Barcelona and Partner at Cuatrecasas, stressed that “in a context of global competition, 22@ must continue to adapt, as its success is not measured by what it has already achieved, but by its ability to keep evolving. Innovation is, by definition, a dynamic concept that requires constant adaptation.”
During the 22@Breakfast, a roundtable discussion was held to analyze the present and future of 22@, moderated by Aina Maragall, Partner at Cuatrecasas and Vice President of Urban Planning at 22@Network Barcelona. The debate included the participation of Joan Cambronero, Director of the Urban Planning and Housing Area of Barcelona City Council, who pointed out that “22@ Nord has great growth potential; therefore, the City Council has relocated the urban planning department to this area, with the aim of continuing to drive its development. In this context, the future La Sagrera station, as one of the largest connectivity hubs in Southern Europe, represents a key opportunity to generate value and accelerate the transformation of this area.”
The debate also featured Josep Garcia Puga, District Manager of Sant Martí, who commented that “22@ is a space for collaboration and an essential asset that brings character and dynamism to the district.” He also explained that he understands the association’s demand to make 22@ a truly vibrant district, with restaurants and services that meet the needs of people who live and work in the area, while underlining the importance of simultaneously ensuring a balance with neighborhood coexistence and quality of life.
The full report is available at the following link: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/es-es/spain/insights/transparency-22-arroba-Gbarcelona
