From Mundaka in the north to Las Arenas in the east and Balneario in the south, the Spanish coast is home to some of the best surfing in Europe. However, Atlético de Madrid, Stoneweg, and Teras Capital plan to open their brand-new wave park, Gemswell Surf Madrid, and bring the thrill of surfing to Spain’s capital in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula. Envisioned as Europe’s largest urban beach and a paradise for surfers, the wave park will provide convenient, year-round surfing opportunities for surfers of all levels. The project is part of Atlético Madrid’s ambitious Sports City development, which will deliver new fields, gyms, stadiums, and other athletic and recreational facilities around the organization’s existing Metropolitano Stadium.

The Gemswell Surf Madrid wave park will feature a 22,000 SM surfing pool; 8,000 SM of outdoor leisure areas, including a skatepark, bars, and space for other beach sports; and a 5,800 SM building with a shop, restaurant, changing rooms, a surf academy, a gym, and more. The pool will use Wavegarden technology to create more than 20 different types of waves with varying sizes and power levels.

To support project development and implementation, the developers hired Hill to provide project management services for the wave park. “This is a very unique project,” says Operations Director Angel Chicharro. “Of particular note, the project required a carefully structured estimating process to align forecasted costs with our client’s target budget objectives. Procurement was also a challenge, as we had to build the right team with the right technical know-how to get the job done.”

In addition to cost management and procurement support, Angel and the rest of the Hill team have managed the development of the master schedule, conducted risk analyses, reviewed the project documents, and made general recommendations to help deliver the project in accordance with all client expectations for cost, schedule, quality, and sustainability. Hill also provides change management, manages contracts, supervises logistics and site planning, and coordinates with the project team to promote project success.

“As the works continue, our team will oversee closeout activities,” adds Head of Real Estate Pilar Pereira. “During this process, we will coordinate inspections to confirm that the wave park is operating as planned. That way, Atlético de Madrid, Stoneweg, and Teras Capital get what they paid for: a fantastic new destination that enhances the area’s recreational appeal, creates space for surfers and would-be surfers in the city, and contributes to Madrid’s continued development.”