El Tarongers campus of the University of Valencia It has completed one of its most significant transformations since opening its doors three decades ago. What for years was a space dominated by concrete and cobblestones has now become a much greener environment, designed for lingering, chatting, and studying outdoors, and not just for rushing from one building to another.
Students, teaching and administrative staff are already using the new gardens and seating areasWhere surface parking lots and hard surfaces with virtually no vegetation once predominated, lawns, shaded pedestrian paths, benches, tables, and tiered seating areas are beginning to redefine the daily life of one of the city's busiest campuses.
From a campus to pass through to a place to stay
For years the Tarongers' original urban planning model It reflected the logic of the mid-nineties: wide paved surfaces, large open areas, and a clear priority given to cars. The result was a campus that was functional for getting around, but not very inviting for spending time, studying in groups, or engaging in outdoor activities.
With the opening of the new gardens, that concept has been left behind. The project has replaced the old cement and the cobblestone Through green spaces and mulched surfaces, introducing more pedestrian-friendly routes and areas designed for the daily use of students and university staff. Benches, tables, and open areas now allow people to spend more time on campus beyond the strict hours of classes.
The underlying idea was clear: to stop being a simple transit zone and to strengthen the campus as a place for community life. The new gardens aim to encourage informal gatherings, group work, and even the holding of small events without needing to enter a building, taking advantage of Valencia's climate and giving a much more intensive and varied use to the common areas.
The change is especially noticeable in the overall image of the university campus, which goes from a gray and harsh landscape to an environment with a greater presence of vegetationMore varied routes and places to stop and explore. For many students who only knew the old campus, the difference is evident from the first day they use the new areas.
The «Trencant en verd» project and the role of the university community
The garden renovation wasn't decided unilaterally without prior consultation. The design is in response to the project. «Trencant en verd», a proposal that won the ideas competition held in 2022 and in which the university community itself had the final say on the campus model it wanted for the coming years.
They participated in that process students, faculty and administrative and service staffThey were able to choose between different alternatives for reorganizing the common areas. The winning option focused on significantly increasing green spaces, improving accessibility, and prioritizing pedestrian and leisure areas over vehicles.
The official opening visit to the new gardens was led by the Rector Mavi MestreAccompanied by deans from various faculties, student representatives, and members of the governing team, the opening finally unlocks areas that had been fenced off for months, completing the campus's new look.
During the tour, the delegation verified on the ground how the demands have materialized The ideas gathered in the competition included: more green spaces, more seating, clearly defined pedestrian paths, and better integration between buildings and outdoor areas. The general feeling among attendees was that Tarongers is gaining in urban quality and comfort for everyday use.
Alongside the opening of the gardens, the University has emphasized that the project is part of a broader strategy of modernization and campus sustainability, similar to the renaturalization of the Ciudad Real campuswhich also includes new buildings and future actions in its immediate surroundings.
Green spaces, sustainability and new uses on campus
One of the areas where the transformation is most noticeable is the large landscaped esplanade Bounded by Ramón Llull Street and the Avenida de los Naranjos, which connects the Faculty of Law with the North and South lecture halls. This space, which previously functioned as a surface parking lot, has been converted into a large pedestrian garden.
The new area combines grassy meadows with mulch areas (pine bark mulch), which helps both to retain soil moisture and to reduce maintenance and water consumption. In one part of the space, a terraced area has been created where various filtering plant species are still developing, which will eventually give the whole area a fully landscaped appearance.
Another key point is the Manuel Broseta SquareThe plaza has also undergone a transformation. In addition to green spaces, it now features a fully operational amphitheater that will allow for outdoor events, presentations, small university concerts, and even classes to be held outdoors when conditions permit. The aim is for the plaza to become a central hub of social and academic activity on campus.
The new design not only addresses aesthetics and comfort, but also incorporates technical solutions related to water management and energy efficiency. Vice-Rector for Economics and Infrastructure, Justo HerreraHe emphasized that the intervention has been planned with a strong focus on sustainability and the circular economy.
Much of the pedestrian walkways have been reused original cobblestonesThis reduces construction waste and gives existing materials a second life. Furthermore, the old streetlights have been replaced with models that provide greater light intensity but less pollution, with shorter columns and lighting directed more towards the ground, preventing light from scattering upwards.
One of the most relevant technical elements are the rain tanks with a capacity of up to 220.000 litersIntegrated beneath the new landscaping, these tanks allow for the storage of rainwater from heavy rainfall and its gradual release into the sewer system, reducing the risk of flooding and contributing to smarter management of rainfall events.
A time capsule for the next generation
The opening day of the new gardens also had a symbolic component: the burying a time capsule next to the future West Building 2. This gesture is part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Tarongers campus and the 525th anniversary of the University of Valencia.
The capsule has been deposited copies of Valencian newspapersThese include recent editions, as well as a facsimile of the first issue of a historic publication. It also includes a USB drive with information about the campus and its evolution, documentation relating to the construction of the new classroom building, the renovation of the gardens, and a selection of content that portrays the current state of the institution.
The reliquary that houses the capsule contains a legend that explains the context of its burial: the reform of the campus according to the "Trencant en verd" project, the construction of the West Building 2 and the desire to leave a record of this stage for those who rediscover it in the future. The opening is planned for 2045., when the campus turns half a century old.
The person in charge of introducing the capsule was Rector Mavi Mestre, who highlighted the value of having it new spaces designed to foster coexistence, interaction, and learning in a different way. In their words, having gardens, plazas, and classrooms adapted to current needs is a way to improve the daily university experience.
During the event, it was also noted that Tarongers, unlike other urban campuses of the University such as Blasco Ibáñez or Burjassot-Paterna, It still has physical room to continue growingThis capacity for expansion largely determines the planning of new academic services and facilities in the coming years.
The new West Building 2: more classrooms and flexible design
The official tour of the new gardens included a stop at the Works of the West Classroom Building 2which are currently in an advanced stage of construction. Although the building is not yet finished, the winning company has prepared a pilot class so that the university community can get an idea of ​​the final result.
The classroom building, built by Rover InfrastructuresIt is envisioned as a key element in alleviating the space problems plaguing the Tarongers campus. Once operational, it will free up classrooms in the existing buildings (West, North, and South) and allow for a more rational redistribution of teaching groups, better adapting to the needs of each degree program.
One of the most outstanding aspects of the property is its flexible and versatile designThe project includes classrooms of approximately 60 square meters that, thanks to retractable panels and movable partitions, can be joined together to form spaces of 120 square meters when needed. This configuration will allow for quick adjustments to class sizes and capacities, depending on the activity or group size.
In total, the new classroom building will incorporate dozens of classrooms with very varied capacitiesFrom small groups of 16 students to rooms for 120 people. This versatility is designed for both more conventional teaching and for seminars, workshops or activities that require a larger open space.
The building also prioritizes criteria of sustainability and energy efficiencyIt is being built with recycled and recyclable steel, incorporates windows with reinforced insulation to improve thermal performance, and will feature efficient climate control systems. All of this aims to reduce energy consumption and offer greater comfort inside.
Furthermore, the design includes the presence of at least one inclusive classroom per floorSpecifically adapted for students with special needs. This includes accessibility solutions, furniture layout, signage, and technical resources that facilitate the participation of all students.
Opening schedule and new academic uses
According to current planning of the University of ValenciaThe construction work on the West Building 2 should be completed next April. From that point, the outfitting phase will begin, which will include the installation of furniture, audiovisual systems, data networks, and the other services necessary for its operation.
The expectation is that the building will be fully operational. coinciding with the start of the 2026-2027 academic yearIts commissioning will allow for the reorganization of the use of existing classrooms in Tarongers, freeing up groups from the most saturated spaces and offering better teaching conditions in a context of growing university demand.
Among the uses already confirmed, the following stand out: relocation of the Secondary Education Master's programCurrently taught at the former Teacher Training College on Alcalde Reig Street in the Monteolivete neighborhood, this postgraduate program will be relocated to the new classroom building. This move will concentrate a significant portion of teacher training at Tarongers, bringing it closer to other related degree programs.
The arrival of the master's program and additional groups on campus reinforces Tarongers' role as one of the most dynamic academic centers in Valencia, with a combination of faculties, services and facilities that make it a key point of university life in the city.
In the medium term, the University is also considering other projects linked to the Tarongers area, including the construction of a new building for the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences next to the sports fields. Although there is still no finalized schedule nor has the start of the process been specified, this action is part of the campus's growth plan.
In parallel, the evaluation is underway future use of the spaces that are freed up on other campuses in the city, such as Blasco Ibáñez, once the planned relocations take place. These decisions will be made based on the institution's academic and strategic needs.
With the opening of the new gardens and the progress of the West Building 2, the Tarongers campus takes a qualitative leap in its evolution: it goes from being a primarily functional space to becoming a a greener, more livable environment, better prepared for the challenges of teaching of the coming years, where sustainability, flexibility and outdoor life are gaining ground in the daily life of university students.
