Gamesa, a global leader in wind turbine design, manufacture, installation and maintenance and a top wind farm developer, laid the cornerstone of its second office building at the City of Innovation, in Sarriguren (Egües, Navarre, Spain). This morning's ceremony was hosted by Gamesa Chairman Jorge Calvet and Miguel Sanz Sesma, President of the Government of Navarre.
The new facility, located at the Navarre City of Innovation Technology Park, will consist of more than 10,000 m2 of office space spread over six floors. Gamesa plans to move into the new building in the second half of 2012.
1,600 employees at Sarriguren I and II in 2012
The building's cylindrical design will help to lower energy consumption by reducing the surface area of the façade by 35% compared with rectangular buildings of similar characteristics. The reduced facade surface area will allow the company to cut energy costs, in terms of both construction and energy used for heating and air conditioning, and will enhance indoor lighting, thereby reducing the need for artificial light.
Likewise, Gamesa will capitalise on synergies and increase efficiency by consolidating its entire Navarre office staff into two buildings at the technology park (the existing Sarriguren I offices and the new facility). The company estimates that a total of 1,600 employees will be based at the site in 2012.
Gamesa in Navarre
Gamesa's wind energy business originated in Navarre in 1994, with a turbine assembly plant and a contract with EHN to put six turbines into operation at the El Perdón wind farm, the region's first.
Gamesa is today one of the largest corporations in Navarre, with a workforce of 1,700 people (23% of Gamesa's global workforce) and offices and factories in Pamplona, Tudela, Imarcoain, Olazagutia, Tajonar and Aoiz, the latter the site of the blade manufacturing plant for the Gamesa G10X turbine, which features unit capacity of 4.5 MW.