The winner of the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2010 was chosen from over 300 buildings which were completed within the award year, of which 17 were nominated to a shortlist.

Hotel Porta Fira was designed by the architecture firms Toyo Ito & Associates and b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos. The 26-floor hotel tower is 112.71 m (369.78 ft) tall and has a capacity of 345 rooms. The outer facade of the double-skin building is made of red aluminum tubes. Inspired by the lotus flower, the tower twists upwards and expands towards the top.

Porta Fira is part of the building complex “European Plaza” and is connected by an atrium to a rectangular office tower. The building was developed by FCC Construcción, Layetana Developments and Metropolis for Hotels Santos and was constructed by FCC Construcción.