EL PROYECTO DEL MONASTERIO DEL ESCORIAL, UN CASO DE ÉXITO LA ACADEMIA REAL MATEMÁTICA DE MADRID ¿UNA CONSECUENCIA DEL ÉXITO?

Abstract

The inception of the idea for the project of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial goes back to 1559. This project stands out thanks to the highest standards in innovation and efficiency it shows in aspects such as the choice of location or the way it was built. These standards where achieved due to the establishment of a project structure where the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved were clearly defined. This framework allowed the project to be completed to the client’s satisfaction within a reasonable time and cost. In addition to what was already mentioned above, strategies related to logistics, human resources and support services were developed. The great success accomplished with this project by Juan de Herrera lead to the strengthening of the bonds of trust between him and the King Felipe the Second, and to his promotion to the position of “Aposentador Mayor de Palacio” in 1579. In our opinion this success was key to the creation of the Royal Academy of Mathematics in Madrid in 1582. This institution provided, for the first time and outside the University, standardised education in Mathematics to architects and engineers among others.