Three years of Mobility City, the futuristic bridge that Zaragoza is proud of

It seems like only yesterday, but three years have already passed since February 23, 2023. On that day, the transformation of the Expo Bridge Pavilion into a space that has since become an icon of sustainable mobility in Zaragoza was completed. Mobility City is now celebrating after surpassing half a million visitors and having organized nearly 400 activities since its opening.

His Majesty King Felipe VI inaugurated the site, and finally, the bridge designed by architect Zaha Hadid , one of the most iconic works of Expo 2008, reopened to the public. This reopening meant returning to the community a space they felt was their own and that symbolizes the Foundation’s purpose of working  “for and with the people.” Since then, this cutting-edge site has established itself as a national benchmark for sustainable mobility, both for the future and the present.

THREE CENTRAL EVENTS OF THE ANNIVERSARY

The celebration of this third anniversary also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Ibercaja Foundation , the entity that manages the space. During the event, three activities took place that reinforced the experiential and symbolic dimension of the project. First, the commemorative book published by the Ibercaja Foundation was presented. “Mobility City, a very real dream” summarizes the project’s early years, written by the space’s director, Jaime Armengol.

This publication was revealed in a conversation between Armengol himself, the president of the Ibercaja Foundation, Amado Franco, and its general manager, José Luis Rodrigo. Franco began by recalling the origins of the idea to transform the Bridge Pavilion , admitting that after the 2008 Expo and the financial crisis of that year, “it wasn’t easy.” 

“We fought for it and we succeeded. This Zaha Hadid bridge is an architectural gem and is now a comprehensive mobility center. We are pioneers ,” he proudly declared, after comparing the importance of this space for the city to Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. Rodrigo also praised the Mobility Center as a business meeting place, as well as a benchmark for innovation, discovering advancements, and breaking down technological barriers. ” It allows us to bring together many sectors ,” he added. 

The official ceremony, attended by high-ranking political figures—both municipal and regional—the presidents of several clusters in Aragon, and leaders from the community’s social and economic sectors, was closed by the acting president of Aragon, Jorge Azcón. He emphasized the importance of the Ibercaja Foundation’s work throughout its 150-year history, stating that “it’s not the Ferrari, but the driver who drives it.” “No matter how much Mobility you have, without the Ibercaja Foundation…” he concluded. 

The evening celebrating this third anniversary ended with a classical music concert inspired by great contemporary soundtracks, with pieces that evoke emotion, nature and spirituality, bringing an artistic and sensory dimension to the celebration, performed by the Ars Symphony group.

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS

Over these first three years, Mobility City has established itself as a meeting point for dialogue between companies, government agencies, experts, and citizens, generating an open and pluralistic debate on the challenges of sustainable mobility. Along with professional workshops and conferences, the center has hosted numerous thematic exhibitions that combine education, innovation, and entertainment, bringing mobility closer to diverse audiences and reinforcing its experiential nature.

Among the major events, Mobility City has hosted the last three editions of the Impulso Awards , organized by the Ibercaja Foundation, Anfac, Sernauto, and Faconauto. It also hosted the 2024 International Motorcycle Road Safety Conference , which brought together more than 200 people and 30 speakers from 23 leading international institutions, and was officially closed by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of the Interior.

Alongside these major events, Mobility City also had a presence at the 2025 FITUR International Tourism Fair , within the Aragon Pavilion. Similarly, last year saw the development of significant events such as the “Aragon Data Center ,” the various “Innovation Days,” and the “Spain Innovation Summit ,” organized in partnership with Zebra. Furthermore, last December, the exterior of Mobility City hosted the first European demonstration flight of an aircraft —in this case, a drone from the company EHang—as part of the U-Save project.