CBRE has advised on the acquisition of the RBA office tower by Grupo Icyesa for €100 million, in one of the most significant transactions in the Barcelona office market in 2026. The deal, structured as an off-market transaction, highlights strong investor appetite for prime assets in strategic locations across the city.
The acquired asset is an iconic building located at Diagonal 189, in the 22@ district, one of Barcelona’s main business hubs. Built in 2010, the property comprises approximately 20,000 square metres across 17 floors and plays a key role in shaping the skyline of the area, just a few metres from Plaça de les Glòries.
The transaction includes a partial sale & leaseback component, as RBA, which occupies a significant portion of the building, will remain as a tenant following the sale. The publishing group, owned by Ricardo Rodrigo, operates through divisions covering magazines, collectibles and publishing imprints.
Grupo Icyesa, specialized in the development of residential, office, retail, parking, and hotel assets, strengthens its position in one of Barcelona’s key business districts through this acquisition. The group operates in the hospitality sector through its Onyx hotel chain, which includes three establishments in the Catalan capital. In addition, the Llarás family holding recently partnered with Emilio Cuatrecasas’ Emesa to develop the Innovation Tower office skyscraper in Esplugues de Llobregat (Barcelona), within the Porta Diagonal complex.
The transaction, brokered by CBRE in an off-market structure, ranks among the most relevant office deals in Barcelona this year, alongside other major transactions such as Criteria’s acquisition of the Estel building for €385 million, the purchase of Two Parc Central by Freo and Tishman Speyer, and Square Asset Management’s acquisition of 1 World Trade Center Almeda Park.
CBRE highlights the strong momentum of the Barcelona office market. “Barcelona is experiencing record levels of office investment so far this year, and it also stands out for its high office absorption in the rental market, particularly in the 22@ district,” said Xavier Güell, Executive Director and Head of Barcelona at CBRE.
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