MSc Real Estate: Barcelona 2015

MSc Real Estate 2014-15 (photo by Andressa Minogue)

Each year the students on the MSc Real Estate take part in a study visit to Europe which allows them to find out more about the operation of land and property markets in a different institutional context from that found in the UK. This year the students (and staff) went to Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain. Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities (thanks Wikipedia). And did I mention the influence of Gaudi in Barcelona? Click on the red links for more information.

As part of the study visit, the students were given a project to work on (in groups and individually). The aim of the project is to integrate a range of core property skills that the students have acquired during the MSc Real Estate in order to address a professional project brief. The students were required to assess specific aspects of the property markets in and around Barcelona and report to a 'client' by means of an oral presentation and a written report. During the study visit, the students were able to build on their knowledge through a series of city tours and presentations by local (and not so local) experts.

Thanks to Andressa Minogue, Robin Tuck and David Shiers who took all the photos.

Welcome to Barcelona!

The students arrived on 31 May 2015 and were taken on a walking tour of Barcelona - led by David Shiers. The tour visited the main retail areas including: La Ramblas, Placa de Catalunya and Portal de L'Angel (mass market retail); Rambla de Catalunya (mid/high-end retail); and Passeig de Gracia, taking in two buildings by Gaudi (Casa Mila and Casa Batlo) and the old Stock Exchange Building. And after the walking: dinner. At the Museum of the History of Catalunya on the seafront.

The walking tour on Sunday 31 May - led by David Shiers

The next day (1 June), the students visited the main office areas, along with mid/high-end retail areas and shopping centres. Areas visited included: Avinguda Diagonal, 22@ development area, Diagonal Mar, the beach (for lunch) and Maremagnum.

Office/retail development in Barcelona

After touring areas of the city, the next two days were spent learning more about what they had seen. Presentations as follows:

Tuesday 2 June
Retail property development and economics (by Leandro Escobar from Knight Frank)
Real estate valuation methods and Diagonal case study (by Leandro Escobar from Knight Frank)
Spanish law, leasing contracts and commercial property terms and conditions (by Carlos Lopez from Knight Frank)
Property investment in Barcelona (by Nick French and Paul Jenkins from Oxford Brookes)
Office development in the 22@ area (by Francesc Miron from Barcelona City Council)

Wednesday 3 June
Office investment in Barcelona (by Nick Wride from Jones Lang LaSalle)
Landlord and tenant issues and planning policy in Barcelona (by Nick Wride from Jones Lang LaSalle)
Barcelona property market: economic overview (by Patricio Palomar from CBRE)
The Barcelona retail sector (by Robert Travers from Cushman & Wakefield)

Presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday

The next day (Thursday 4 June) was preparation and presentation day for the students. After which, some time together for a final group meal and some prizes in the grand tradition of Nick French (the MSc Real Estate leader).

Nick French handing out the prizes

Most of the students stayed on for a weekend in Barcelona while the staff went home, tired. For more information about the MSc Real Estate, take a look at our website. This could be you next year.

Out and about in Barcelona