IE School of Architecture and Design inaugurates the Creative Campus, where global talent reimagine the world of creative industries

Segovia, 26 September 2025 - IE School of Architecture and Design has inaugurated the IE Creative Campus, its new home in the heart of Segovia. Located in the historic Palacio de Mansilla, a 12th century building within the medieval city walls, this expansion marks a milestone in the School’s strategy to reinforce its global ecosystem of students and professors from around the world and to strengthen its position as an international hub for the creative industries.

Globally renowned architect Norman Foster, Pritzker Prize laureate and President of the Norman Foster Foundation, delivered the keynote lecture at the IE Creative Campus inauguration ceremony. The event featured remarks by Diego del Alcázar y Silvela, Founder of IE University; Santiago Íñiguez, President of IE University; Salvador Carmona, Rector of IE University; David Goodman, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design; and José Mazarías Pérez, Mayor of Segovia. 

Lord Norman Foster highlighted: "This amazing university is the ultimate creative act and leadership of IE University’s founder, Diego del Alcázar y Silvela."He underlined the essential role of design in addressing contemporary challenges, linking design, technology, and sustainability to underscore how education in these fields can contribute not only to professional excellence but also to building a better and more sustainable future for society as a whole. "In the social agenda, everything around is design. The power of design is the power to improve the quality of our lives. Technology is really inseparable from sustainability. What is good for the human being is good for the planet."

Wes Gordon brings Carolina Herrera’s vision to the IE Creative Campus

As part of the program planned to celebrate the new IE Creative Campus, Wes Gordon, Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, shared his reflections this week with IE University students on creativity and professional growth. "Don’t try to create a fifty-piece collection right from the start. Be patient. Create something that is special and different, even if it’s just a T-shirt, and from there, keep growing," he advised the students. He defined his design philosophy as a celebration of beauty, optimism, and joy, and described creativity as a form of "magic," capable of transforming ideas into tangible expressions that positively impact people’s lives. "In times of darkness, the world needs color and beauty," he said.

Upcoming speakers include Alice Rawsthorn, writer and critic, who will offer insight into design’s power to shape cultural and social change; Nifemi Marcus-Bello, Nigerian designer, who will highlight community-based and local material approaches to global design challenges; and Tatiana Bilbao, architect, who will address architecture as a practice of care, sustainability, and social commitment.

The respectful rehabilitation of Palacio Mansilla

The IE Creative Campus is housed in the Palacio de los Condes de Mansilla, in Segovia’s historic center and is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage designation. The 12th-century palace underwent a rehabilitation process led by Serrano Suñer Arquitectura, which preserved its historical elements while adapting it for modern educational use. The building blends Romanesque features on the ground floor with spectacular stone arches that divide vaulted spaces, as well as Mudejar features. At the end of the 15th century, a Gothic palace was added, built around a central courtyard, complete with a polychrome ceiling and a door in the style of 15th century by Spanish architect Juan Guas. In the 18th century, the building underwent major renovations, introducing new structures.

"The opening of the IE Creative Campus preserves and revitalizes one of Segovia’s historic landmarks, bringing new energy, talent, and opportunities to our community", added José Mazarías Pérez, Mayor of Segovia.

Diego del Alcázar y Silvela, President and Founder of IE University, highlighted that the IE Creative Campus represents "a decisive step in our institution’s mission: to explore new horizons, expand the boundaries of knowledge, and open new spaces for creation for our students and for society." Del Alcázar described Norman Foster as “one of the great living legends of contemporary architecture, and one of the most relevant architects in history", and emphasized that Lord Foster embodies "the figure of the universal humanist, capable of engaging in dialogue with the arts, technology, and life." Del Alcázar concluded by celebrating the opening of the campus, created to bolster creative talent and “further enriched by the participation of Norman and Elena Foster."

Spanning over 5,000 m², the IE Creative Campus has been conceived as a laboratory for ideas at the intersection of architecture, design, fashion, and entrepreneurship. The renovated palace includes studios, classrooms, a design library, and laboratories dedicated to construction, textiles, biomaterials, experimentation and digital fabrication. The IE Creative Campus also hosts part of the School’s academic portfolio - Bachelor in Architectural Studies, Bachelor in Design, Bachelor in Fashion Design, Dual Degree BBA/Design, Dual Degree BBA/Fashion Design - complementing the one in Madrid. Following its expansion into Fashion Design, the School has recently launched its Master in Interior Design and has future plans to introduce programs in Graphic Design and Virtual Environment Design.

"Conceived as a hub for creativity, experimentation, and collaboration, this space brings together a truly international academic community, with students and professors from across the globe, to innovate, rethink the world we live in, design projects, explore materials, and develop critical thinking in an inspiring environment,"said David Goodman, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design, who added that in this new stage, the School works to strengthen collaborations with the business and institutional world through academic, civic, and corporate partnerships, exhibitions and workshops, and applied research. "Our mission is clear: to build a more just, beautiful, and sustainable world through the transformative power of the creative industries".

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IE School of Architecture and Design, one of the six school of IE University, places a special focus on innovation in design education and is committed to cultivating a creative, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible mindset. The School emphasizes hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a deep understanding of the real-world impact of design. It promotes a “learning by doing” philosophy, supported by state-of-the-art facilities at the Creative Campus in Segovia, including fabrication labs, experimentation workshops, and research studios. With a strong belief in the power of human creativity to address today’s pressing challenges, the School integrates design excellence with business and management training. Its program portfolio includes the Bachelor in Architectural Studies, the Bachelor in Design, the Bachelor in Fashion Design, the Master in Business for Architecture and Design, the Master in Interior Design, and the Master in Real Estate Development- each designed to prepare future leaders who can navigate the complexities of the creative industries and contribute to building a better world.