Lisbon's century-old Arco do Cego railway station fell into disuse in the 1990s. Thirty years later, the depot's original features are part and parcel of the Técnico Innovation Centre's unique structure.
The Técnico Innovation Centre opened its doors to the public in October 2023. Co-funded by the European Union, this huge renovation project was two years in the making and complements Lisbon's Alameda Campus.
The plans for the new building were designed by a team of architects from the Técnico Innovation Centre itself. Preserving the building’s original character with innovative energy-saving techniques was a top priority. The windows flood the space with natural light while layers of insulation in the windows and walls help regulate the temperature inside.
"I've seen pictures of how the existing building used to look before, and I think it's really interesting to see how they kept the character of the building," said Anna Sophia Güllich, a student from Germany who is studying architecture at the University of Lisbon.
"You can still see, like, the train lines of the trams that used to be inside here, and you can still see the original walls outside. And they did a great job by keeping the character, also by keeping the shape of the roof perfect."