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http://www.comillas.es/english/
The University of Comillas was founded in 1890 by Pope Leo XIII. Its beginnings were as a Catholic seminary for candidates studying towards gaining priesthood from around Spain, Latin America and the Philippines. At first the 'Seminario Mayor' was created and more university buildings were gradually constructed as increasingly more activity took place. Thus, in 1912 the ‘Seminario Menor’ building was finished and in 1944 the ‘Edificio Máximo’ was inaugurated.
Owing to the decaying numbers of youth studying towards priesthood in Spain, the seminary of Comillas was closed in 1968, although some summer camps for religious schools still took place in the early 90s. From 2013, with the opening of the UWC España, a centre with non religious or political connotations, these buildings will host a diversity of multicultural students that practice different faiths and creeds or none at all.
The building depicted on the left (Edificio Máximo), will house student dormitories (“Residencia de Estudiantes”). The building in the middle (Seminario Menor) will be devoted to academic uses, whereas the building on the right of the picture (Seminario Mayor) will contain the International Centre of University Studies in Spanish (CIESE), sponsored by the Comillas Foundation. http://www.fundacioncomillas.es/GBR
These properties have been leased by the Government of Cantabria to the UWC España for a set period of 99 years.
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The UWC España is located in Comillas, a small town in the northern reaches of Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Comillas is spread over 4600 acres (7.2 square miles; 18.6 km²) and has 2,500 inhabitants. It lies 30 minutes away by car from the capital of the region, Santander and 40 minutes away from the airports of Santander and Oviedo, in Asturias, the adjacent province to the west of Cantabria. You can look for more information about Comillas here:
Renovation works of the buildings shall be undertaken according to the highest standards in terms of sustainable architecture and energy efficiency. There will be no architectural or communication barriers whatsoever, in keeping with the UWC Spanish Committee Foundation’s principles of attention to diversity (students with disabilities) and accessibility standards.