UPO-University Campus
The project is the winner of an International Competition for the reuse of the former Perrone Barracks and its conversion into a University Campus. The projects defines a new type of University Campus open to the city and revitalising the surrounding urban fabric. Historic buildings are converted into Aula Magna, Library and students Dorm while a new building is dedicated to classrooms. The architecture set a new relationship between the new and the historical surrounding buildings by reinterpreting the historical typology with a truly modern and innovative approach based on the dry construction technique.
The project is the winner of an International Competition for the reuse of the former Perrone Barracks and its conversion into a University Campus.
The area is downtown Novara, between the ancient city walls and the new town. The project is based on the idea that a new University Campus within the historic city can be open to students as well as to common citizens becoming a real piece of town. This will boost the quality of the urban fabric in the surrounding area.
Historic buildings are converted into Aula Magna, Library and students Dorm while a new building is dedicated to classrooms. The new building is 120-meter-long and 18-meter-wide, open plan, with no intermediate pillars. The metallic stricture is completed with dry construction techniques and the building cladding is made of large prefabricated GRC panels (5.40 x 2.40 mt)
The building is on three levels. The lower level is half-underground and hosts three large classrooms (350-seats) facing the low garden that provides natural light and may be used for outdoor teaching activities. The intermediate level is connected to the surrounding historical buildings with an internal pathway that provides a constant osmosis between the teaching activities and the others campus facilities. The internal corridor on two levels receive natural light and ventilation from skylights.
The energy management is based on low energy consumption and geothermal based HVAC system.
