How the [UNVRS] Ibiza megastructure was erected: one million kilos of steel to reinvent the hyperclub

The reopening of the historic venue that once housed Privilege has a less visible, but essential protagonist to understand the magnitude of [UNVRS] Ibiza: the metal structure that makes possible its iconic dome and its new rooms. Behind this engineering mega-work is Ruiz Construcciones Metálicas (RuizCM), a Spanish company that has taken on one of the most demanding structural projects in European nightlife.

The company has manufactured and installed more than 1,050,000 kilos of steel, designing and assembling key elements such as the New Dome, the Artists’ Trolley, lattices, modules and special structures, in a project that consolidates [UNVRS] as a global benchmark in entertainment and RuizCM as one of the great names in structural engineering at international level.

The megastructure that supports the new Ibizan leisure giant

The transformation of the former Privilege in[UNVRS] Ibiza has attracted great expectation for its scale and ambition. On site, one of the most imposing challenges was not visible in a sign or a stage, but in the metal skeleton that had to support new geometries, loads, openings and technical requirements of a macro space for thousands of people.

In this context, the participation of RuizCM, a company specialized in complex metallic structures, was required to manufacture and assemble the main structure that today supports the hall and the emblematic dome of the new [UNVRS].

The company describes the project as “a major technical challenge,” marked by a colossal volume of steel and the need to integrate advanced engineering with design, aesthetics, and safety.

One million kilos of steel to materialize a concept

The company’s figures give an idea of the magnitude of the order: more than 1,050,000 kg of steel fabricated, transported and installed. An extraordinary volume, even in the industrial sector, and which, when applied to a macro leisure area, reflects the complexity of the challenge.

RuizCM emphasizes that this project has allowed them to “demonstrate their ability to tackle complex structural solutions, maintain high quality standards and consolidate their reputation as an international benchmark supplier”.

The structure had to respond to multiple simultaneous objectives:

• support dynamic loads related to sound, lighting and effects;

• integrate into a hybrid architecture where part of the building is new and part inherited;

• stay true to the aesthetic design of the space;

• and ensure maximum safety in a site intended for high occupancy.

For this purpose, RuizCM developed advanced engineering through calculation, design and integral modeling in TEKLA, in addition to the custom manufacturing of each part.

The New Dome: architectural symbol and technical challenge

Among the most spectacular elements of the new complex, the New Dome stands out not only for its visual presence but also for the engineering required for it to exist. The company emphasizes that it is a piece designed and manufactured specifically for [UNVRS] , a unique element whose execution involved combining precision in the workshop with adaptability on site.

RuizCM also manufactured and installed the Artist’s Trolley, another custom-made component, as well as 1,150 linear meters of Aisi316L stainless steel gutters and finials, a high-strength material used in premium projects.

Each phase, the company says, combined “shop-floor precision and on-site adaptability,” key values in ensuring that the dome and the rest of the structure were assembled without compromising safety or design.

When engineering transforms experiences

Part of the challenge of building for a nightlife space like [UNVRS] is that the engineering must not only meet technical standards: it must do so without detracting from the expressiveness of the user experience.

RuizCM explains that he has paid “special attention to the aesthetics and design of the structure, understanding that engineering is not only measured by its strength, but also by its ability to integrate harmoniously with the environment and the user’s experience”.

This vision is consistent with the concept of [UNVRS], whose approach combines technology, sensory immersion and a contemporary reinterpretation of large clubbing spaces. The new dome contributes to the feeling of spaciousness and futurism that characterizes the venue. The structure is, ultimately, the silent infrastructure that makes possible the visual and scenic narrative that [UNVRS] proposes.

The construction site within the construction site: integral assembly and millimetric alignments

RuizCM’s participation was not limited to design and fabrication: the company also undertook the complete on-site assembly, including installation, adjustments, alignments and reinforcements.

This type of intervention requires extreme technical coordination: synchronization with architectural and civil works teams, planning with sound, light and technology installers, management of heavy logistics in an island environment, and adaptation to the previous morphology of the site.

The company stresses that its team worked to ensure that the structure met “all technical and regulatory requirements, as well as international quality standards”.

The dome and associated elements are not only a physical support: they are a structural base that conditions the acoustics, the circulation of people, the flight of stage equipment and the general safety of the space.

“Every project is an opportunity to push the limits.”

RuizCM’s CEO, Roberto Ruiz, has highlighted the technical philosophy behind the project, highlighting the innovative nature of the intervention: “For us, every project represents an opportunity to push the limits of structural engineering. Collaborating with [UNVRS] has allowed us to apply advanced technical solutions that guarantee maximum safety and functionality, without compromising the design and aesthetics of the space.”

He added: “Every project we take on is an opportunity to demonstrate that engineering and innovation can transform spaces and experiences. Our involvement in [UNVRS] is a clear example of how quality, safety and creativity come together to deliver world-leading solutions.”

The role of engineering in the reinvention of a global icon

[UNVRS] is not just any project: it was born in the space that for decades housed Privilege, considered the largest club in the world. Its conversion not only involves renovating a building, but also reinterpreting a symbol of Ibiza.

In this context, the metal structure manufactured by RuizCM is not a secondary element: it supports the visual identity of the new space,

• enables its contemporary volumes, allows for new staging, and meets the safety standards required for a venue of this scale.

“The combination of innovative design, high-strength materials and advanced technical solutions has been key to consolidate [UNVRS] Ibiza as a global benchmark in leisure and entertainment,” says the metal construction company.

A Spanish company behind a project with international repercussions

The intervention in [UNVRS] reflects RuizCM’s corporate culture, based on “innovation, collaboration and passion for structural design”. Through this project, the company reaffirms its leadership in works of high complexity and international prestige, and demonstrates that Spanish engineering competes at the level of large European operators.

[UNVRS] , for its part, benefits from a structure designed not only to function, but to endure and adapt to technological changes that will mark the future of nightlife. The dome and the rest of the elements designed by RuizCM are a fundamental part of its identity for the coming years.

Invisible engineering underpinning the new era of [UNVRS].

While thousands of visitors enjoy the reopening of the great Sant Rafel venue, few know the structural history that makes it possible. Behind the lights, screens and shows, the megastructure designed and assembled by RuizCM supports the new narrative of [UNVRS] in Ibiza: a space that aspires to be a world reference in technology, architecture and entertainment.

The project demonstrates that, in Ibiza, innovation in nightlife starts long before the first song is played: it starts in engineering.