After years of waiting, the future of the Center for the Creation of Arts (CREAA) in Alcorcón seems to be taking shape. The City Council has held a press conference to detail the complex's future plans, including the award of its eight buildings. The mayor, Candelaria Testa, defended the municipal management against opposition criticism, recalling the original contract's termination in 2012 by the Partido Popular, which resulted in a 34 million euro compensation.
Candelaria Testa explained that the ATENPRO service was the last to be granted, and that the auditorium, which will function as a theater, and the configurable room were recently awarded. The complex will also house the circus, an exhibition hall, an audiovisual hub, and cafeteria and restaurant areas. The company La Madriguera de Sloth will be responsible for completing the works, under a 50-year concession model that will not involve direct cost to the City Council, but an annual fee exceeding 210,000 euros.
The main focus of the CREAA will be culture and 'gaming'. The deputy mayor and councilor for Urban Agenda, Miguel Ángel González García, emphasized that the goal is to make the complex an international benchmark, as originally conceived. "We have managed to get this cultural engine running after a long period of inactivity," he stated.
The completion of the works, requiring an investment of approximately 30 million euros, is expected for a formal presentation in December, to be held in the circus building. The entire complex will be named Soho City. Grupo Wonderland, along with CaixaBank, will drive the project, aiming for global positioning. The circus building will be the first to open, due to its proximity to the Metro.
“"You need people at the forefront, and what you have here in Alcorcón, I envisioned twenty years ago. [...] For me, this is better news than for them, because my vision is being fulfilled. [...] We sell 1.6 million tickets and we aim to be the number one in the world like the O2 Arena. To reveal the name: the entire complex will be called Soho City, and in December, we expect to hold a presentation event in the circus, similar to the one we did at Príncipe Pío."
Luis Álvarez, CEO and Founder of La Estación Gran Teatro CaixaBank Príncipe Pío, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, comparing its ambition to that of the O2 Arena and confirming that the complex will be named Soho City. The circus building is expected to be the first to open its doors, facilitating access to public transport and bringing cultural offerings closer to citizens.
