University Campus USI/SUPSI, Lugano

University Campus USI/SUPSI, Lugano

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.

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Project
University Campus USI/SUPSI
Location
Lugano
Year
2021
Program
University and Research
Type of commission
Open Competition
Status
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