The round table included Dr Victor Echarri Iribarren, professor and director of UIC Barcelona School of Architecture, as president; Dr Anna Ribas, full professor, University of Girona Department of Geography; and Dr Joaquim Sabaté, full professor of the Department of Urban Planning at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Rector Alfonso Méndiz was attended the event.

“For our institution, this event speaks of a certain maturity, despite our youth, and speaks of the commitment of a colleague who has given the best of himself,” Victor Echarri stated at the beginning of the event. Joaquim Sabaté was in charge of presenting the merits (laudatio). “Urban planning is concerned with the well-being of the region and its inhabitants, rehabilitating the landscapes, to obtain a more dignified life for its countrymen. It is the task of a regional doctor,” Sabaté said.

Pere Vall holds a PhD in Architecture from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. He has been senior lecturer and director of the Area of Urban Planning and Land Use and was director of the UIC Barcelona School of Architecture between 2013 and 2016. He combines teaching and research on identity and contemporary landscape. He has worked on the development of methodological bases for the co-production of river landscapes. Pere Vall defended his position as full professor with a presentation titled “Matriz cívica y co-producción: Introducción a un método [Civic matrix and co-production: Introduction to a method],” and stressed the importance of community action-based urban planning that improves the quality of life of all citizens.

According to Anna Ribas, taking the position as full professor by Pere Vall is the recognition of a “long, extended and fruitful career, with always rigorous, committed, applicable and academic research.”

With the investment of Pere Vall, UIC Barcelona School of Architecture has five full professors: Víctor Echarri Iribarren, Vicenç Sarrablo Moreno, Alberto T. Estévez Escalera, Josep Lluis i Ginovart, and Pere Vall Casas.