Paraninfo de la Universidad del País Vasco, University auditorium in Abandoibarra, Bilbao, Spain.
The Paraninfo of the University of the Basque Country is an event building in Bilbao's renovated port area. The L-shaped structure with white marble exterior and five floors contains a main auditorium, exhibition spaces, and an administrative hall.
Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira designed the building, completed in 2010 as a symbol of the port area's transformation. It became part of a major urban renewal project that reshaped Bilbao into a modern cultural hub.
The building serves as a formal setting for academic celebrations and gatherings of the Basque university community. People visit here to participate in graduations and important university ceremonies throughout the year.
The building features a 1,200-square-meter landscaped terrace on the first floor that connects both wings and offers river views. This elevated platform gives visitors space to explore the area from above and rest between activities.
The building forms an architectural gateway with the adjacent Deusto Library, positioned between the Guggenheim Museum and Torre Iberdrola in the transformed district. Many visitors overlook this pairing while moving between more famous nearby landmarks.
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