Catalan construction entrepreneur Julio Sorigué dies at 92

BarcelonaCatalan construction entrepreneur Julio Sorigué died this Tuesday at the age of 92, the company confirmed in a statement. His farewell will take place this Thursday, August 14, at 11 a.m. in the New Cathedral of Lleida.

Born in Cervera in 1933, Sorigué began working in this sector in 1954 in Binéfar (Huesca), where he worked in aggregate production and asphalt processing. He founded the company that bears his name in 1968 in Lleida. However, the business's major breakthrough came in 2005, when the company purchased Acsa, the former construction division of Agbar, and became the Sorigué Group. In 2011, Julio Sorigué handed over the generational leadership to his niece Ana Vallés, who assumed the presidency. He remained as honorary president.

Beyond his business career, Sorigué was also recognized for his work as a patron. In 1985, together with his wife, Josefina Blasco, he founded the Sorigué Foundation, which promotes cultural, educational, and social activities from Lleida and manages an occupational center for people with intellectual disabilities. It also houses a collection of contemporary art, considered one of the most important in Spain today, featuring works by internationally renowned artists such as Anselm Kiefer, William Kentridge, Bill Violes, Juan Muñoz, Chuck Close, Anish Kapoor, and Antonio López. The foundation's mission is to bring art to all audiences, and it also organizes temporary exhibitions and maintains an active policy of loans and collaborations with other institutions.

Julio Sorigué received several awards throughout his life, such as the Francesc Macià Medal for Labor, awarded to him by the Generalitat (Catalan Government). The government also recognized him with the Cross of Sant Jordi in 2013. In addition, the Lleida Provincial Council awarded him the Special Prestige Award for his 60 years of experience in the sector and the Gold Medal of the city of Lleida in recognition of his business activity.

From construction to renewable energy

"Julio Sorigué's death is a moment of great sorrow, not only on a personal level but also due to the loss of a great businessman whom, like many people, I have deeply admired," lamented Ana Vallés, the businessman's niece and current president of the group. "His professional career is a benchmark for our group, and his legacy will live on in our company through the commitment of our entire team to continue the mission he began. We will continue working with the same dedication and passion that inspired us, ensuring that Sorigué remains a benchmark of leadership and commitment."

The Sorigué group closed 2024 with a turnover of €784 million and an EBITDA (operating result) of €31 million. Over the years, the company has diversified its business into other sectors besides construction, such as the management of hydraulic infrastructure and the generation of renewable energy, particularly through the operation of photovoltaic parks.