The Universidad Laboral de Gijón is located in the parish of Cabueñes, just over three kilometres from the city centre. Built between 1946 and 1956, it is the most important architectural work carried out in the 20th century in Asturias. With its 270,000 square metres, it is the largest building in Spain.

The central building currently houses various institutions, such as the Jovellanos Faculty of Commerce, Tourism and Social Sciences of the University of Oviedo, the Higher School of Dramatic Art of Asturias, the professional music conservatory and, in the former workshops, LABoral Art and Industrial Creation Centre.

On the rest of the land belonging to the "José Antonio Girón" Foundation, destined for the Universidad Laboral de Gijón, all kinds of facilities have been built. For example, a municipal golf course has been built on the Lloreda Farm, and part of the Somió Agronomic Farm houses the Universidad Laboral Secondary School, while the former convent of the Poor Clare nuns is currently the headquarters of Radiotelevisión del Principado de Asturias (Radiotelevision of the Principality of Asturias). Part of the land for sports activities is now occupied by the Cabueñes Hospital, the Mortuary, the Gijón Science and Technology Park and the Gijón campus of the University of Oviedo.

The building is built with its back to the city of Gijón. Luis Moya designed it in this way in the image and likeness of the Parthenon in Athens and with the same intention: that to access its interior it would be necessary to go around it to appreciate it in all its magnificence.

The church is undoubtedly the most spectacular building in the Universidad Laboral's architectural complex. With a surface area of 807 square metres, it is one of the largest elliptical churches in the world. There is a certain similarity, especially inside, with the church of San Agustín in Madrid, by the same architect. On the outside, above the lintel of the door, an image of the Virgin of Covadonga is placed in a central niche and, flanking it, four Corinthian columns support the images of Saint Joseph, Saint Ignatius, Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

The theatre has a Hellenistic-style façade of similar dimensions to those of the Parthenon. Crowning the central pediment is a large coat of arms of Spain, according to the 1945 model. Its entrance is guarded by statues of six great writers: Miguel de Cervantes, Leandro Fernández de Moratín, Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Tirso de Molina, Francisco de Quevedo and Lope de Vega.