throughout the 20th century, the building was expanded, renovated and modernized to support the activities on the site. following the republican revolution, in 1907 the gas company of lisbon began operating from the site, eventually assuming the role of the municipal services of porto by 1920, responsible for gas and electricity. it was only in 1959 that the municipal council of porto bought the building from the descendants of the viscount of trindade. in 1989, its descendant, edp (the national energy/electricity producer), moved out of the building.