The new university campus for USI and SUPSI in Lugano is located along the Cassarate river, on the opposite side of the existing campus, bringing an intentional change of scale in a neighbourhood consisting mainly of residential buildings. The volume is articulated in response to the solicitations of the context and at the same time defines within it a public space, joining USI and SUPSI around a courtyard, which is the open atrium of the campus. Around a colonnade the entrances to the respective institutes are arranged and the main public functions. The public programs continue in the ring on the first floor connecting all classrooms. Above, the private programs are split into four volumes, opening the building towards the surrounding mountains. The building's bearing facade uniformly covers the entire building like a texture, emphasizing the cohesion of the volume. The prefabricated facade elements and slabs celebrate the plasticity of the concrete and ennoble the industrial construction. The character of the building is based on the reduction of the elements, an open and flexible infrastructure able to respond to changes over time. The campus is interpreted as a single building that encloses a city.
continue…University Campus USI/SUPSI, Lugano
University Campus USI/SUPSI
Lugano
2021
University and Research
Open Competition
built
Size
130'000 m³
Client
Università della Svizzera italiana
Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana
Building type
Newbuild
Team
Michele Cutolo, Renato de Ciccio, Michel Luppi, Francesco Piatti, Veronica Marzorati, Carlotta Sartorio, Luca Pessina
Collaboration
Tocchetti Architetti Ingegneri
Structural Engineer
Fürst Laffranchi Baungienieure, GmbH, Aarwangen
Tunesi Ingegneria S.A., Lugano
Landscape Architecture
Rosenmayr Landschaftsarchitektur GmbH, Zürich
Construction Management
Direzione Lavori S.A., Lugano
Building Technology
Visani Rusconi Talleri S.A.
Electrical Engineer
Elettroconsulenze Solcà S.A., Mendrisio
Building Physics
Evolve S.A., Bellinzona
Cost Planner
Büro für Bauökonomie AG, Luzern
Facade Planner
Mebatech AG, Baden
Fire Technician
Swiss Safety Center S.A., Lugano
Contractor
Garzoni S.A., Lugano
Photographer
Giorgio Marafioti