The new name remembers one of the main figures who fostered the idea of a Barcelona open to the sea, a concept which enabled the city to be transformed and played an essential part in the presentation of the city during the Olympic Games in 1992.

The Barcelona architect received the City of Barcelona Gold Medal for Artistic Merit and the City of Barcelona Award for International Projection. In 2008 he won the National Award for Architecture and in 2011 the Government of Catalonia awarded him the National Award for Culture and Professional and Artistic Career.

Bohigas was the Councillor for Culture with the City Council until 1994. More recent works by his studio, MBM Arquitectes, include the Liceu metro station, the RBA Editors office building, the Vila Olímpica, the Port Olímpic de Barcelona and the Disseny HUB building in Glòries.