An MScSUS Final Project Awarded with the Càritas Honorary Distinction

Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families in situations of social vulnerability while promoting human dignity and social justice, has presented the Honorary Distinction for the Master’s Final Project with the Best Social Content for the 2024/2025 academic year. Through its various programmes, Càritas provides assistance in housing, employment, social inclusion, and community development across the Archdiocese of Barcelona.

This year marked the first edition of the Càritas Honorary Distinction awarded to the ESCI-UPF Master’s Programmes, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to fostering academic projects that contribute to the common good and social transformation. The jury reviewed a preselection of three Master’s Final Projects presented within the Master of Science in International Business (MScIB) and the Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSUS) programmes.

The recognition was ultimately granted to Carlota Garcia, Firas Khalifeh, and Karin Schroeder, students of the MScSUS, for their project entitled “Superilling Plaça de Catalunya. A Precedent-Based Urban Revitalization Proposal,” supervised by the architect Mr. Sander Laudy.

The jury particularly valued the awarded project’s innovative and courageous approach, grounded in a rigorous analysis of environmental impacts and its potential contribution to urban well-being. Through the Superblock model, the project positions Barcelona at the forefront of emerging sustainable urban paradigms, improving the quality of public spaces while addressing climate challenges. Despite the city’s progress, issues such as high vehicle density and limited accessible green spaces remain, particularly evident in Plaça de Catalunya—a highly trafficked urban node with untapped potential for pedestrian-oriented transformation.

The project explores the possibility of redesigning this central area into a more inviting, green, and people-centered space, with the aim of enhancing environmental quality, urban vitality, and social cohesion. By combining conceptual analysis, comparative case studies, and an environmental impact assessment of traffic reduction, the authors envision a resilient and inclusive urban design model for one of Barcelona’s most emblematic locations.

The award ceremony, which took place at ESCI-UPF on October 14th, recognised the project’s significant contribution to sustainable urbanism and its alignment with the social values promoted by Càritas Diocesana de Barcelona.