The project for the new Padua Faculty of Engineering Innovation Hub represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the urban regeneration and academic development of the city. Located within the existing trade fair complex, the project involves the demolition of Pavilion 2 of the fairgrounds to make way for a new building, configured as an "infill" in an already built-up area in the city center. This new building will serve as an attractive hub for the area, becoming an educational center for lectures and offices dedicated to the engineering department.
Our goal was to respond to the University of Padua's need to create an Innovation Hub dedicated to tech-transfer and engineering degree programs, with a vision that goes beyond just teaching. We designed spaces that encourage the creation of cultural and operational synergies, including new spaces for co-working activities, technical laboratories and areas dedicated to business incubation.
The result is a building that is representative of the University of Padua, capable of instilling a strong sense of belonging among students and citizens. This complex meets the needs of 3,000 students and includes 14 classrooms with capacities between 100 and 300 people, flexible study spaces, multifunctional areas and services. The building has four above-ground floors with a usable green roof. The building design features a rectangular volume with two projecting bodies on the south front, adding dynamism to the structure.
We designed the interior spaces to be highly flexible to meet the diverse needs of a modern university environment. In particular, we included stair bodies not only as functional links, but as "elements of being," which recall the university's historic architecture and reinforce its role at the urban level.
The building is designed with glulam load-bearing structures, xlam wood roofs and "caisson" floors, making it an outstanding example of sustainable construction. The choice of wood as the main material not only reduces environmental impact, but also contributes to a welcoming and healthy environment for all users. With this project, we aim to create one of the largest wood-frame buildings in Italy, a symbol of innovation and sustainability in the heart of the city of Padua.