Xavier Martínez

The Sagrada Familia is once again in the spotlight in Barcelona this week. On the one hand, the temple was present during Pope Leo XIV's visit to Catalonia through a facsimile of the laying of its first stone, presented by the President of the Generalitat as an institutional gift. On the other hand, the Passeig de Gràcia Association has recognized the work of the Constructing Board with one of its annual awards. Two gestures that once again highlight the symbolic weight of a work that, more than 140 years after its inception, continues to be one of Barcelona's great emblems.

At the helm of this project is Xavier Martínez, general director of the Constructing Board of the Sagrada Familia since 2014. An industrial engineer by training, he has developed a good part of his career in areas linked to business management and organizational transformation before joining the temple. Over the last decade, he has led a decisive stage in the evolution of the works, marked by the culmination of several main towers, the incorporation of new construction technologies, and the preparation for the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death, which will be celebrated in 2026. His figure has been key to combining the preservation of the architectural legacy with the technical and management challenges involved in one of the most complex constructions in the world.