Sholastic Center, Lissone (Mi), Italy

Important characteristics: " didactic and service nuclei " and "internal road"

Designers: Arch. Giorgio Ponti, Arch. G. Caravita, Arch. C. Guenzi, Arch. G. Mariani, Ing. F. Panzeri, Ing. G. Bono

• Owner: Province of Milan
• Grade level: 14 - 18 years
• Year of construction: 1982 / 1993
• Students (planned): 1500
• Grounds area: 98.500 M2
• Building surface: 18,475 M2
• Surface area per student: 11,39 M2
• Construction cost: 14. 450 billion lira
• Cost per student: 9,6 billion lira
• Current cost per student: 14.838 billion lira

The construction site is on the northeast outskirts of Lissone, in a small bordering unincorporated village with the interested neighboring cities. Numerous projects are in the design and construction phase.

The particular architectural and environmental urban contest guided the design choices towards a structure that could give clear architectural signals and a social meeting place in the area. The design has kept this in mind, organizing the communal areas in order to take maximum advantage of the interaction with the area.

The auditorium, library, cafeteria and gymnasium are around the area reserved for classrooms and act as a filter between the school and the outside world. This arrangement allows their construction to be critically analyzed with the possibility to review their functions, size and uses.

Extrapolating the communal spaces allows the grounds to be united and versatile also when talking about technical systems.

The horizontal connection system, characterized by open "roads - arcades" simulates a city street and has the functions of transit to the classrooms, to the communal areas and to the socialization area.

The central school has two principle roads: the first, central, is the entrance through the administration department and continues to the cafeteria and library; the second, perpendicular to the first, passes through the center to the gymnasium and auditorium.

The plan foresees a system of arcades with circular columns, to delimit the square in front of the entrance and central hall. It has the double function of covered road and break area.

The administration and nurse's offices will be in the entrance area.

The classrooms, three floors above ground, are formed in perpendicular bodies with service points at the joints. A corridor runs through the blocks are illuminated and ventilated by windows at both ends and skylights that can be opened.

The "arcade road"

On the ground floor, the arcade roads have skylight shafts that are useful for ventilation and illumination.

On the next floor, the roads are similar to runways that overlook the ground floor.

The auditorium is rectangular and seats 500 people. It is connected to the music hall and practice cubicles.

The library contains a video library, audio library, periodic section and a reading room.