1.03.2019  14:00

Renzo Piano presents the new Architecture Campus

A new centre of excellence for research and innovation in architecture, as well as many green spaces donated to the city

Green, open, state-of-the-art and respectful of the city, of the existing architectures and of their history.

This is the idea behind the new Architecture Campus designed by the Alumnus Renzo Piano, which the Politecnico is setting up as a gift to Milan and to its citizens.

A fully-fledged centre of excellence for research and innovation in architecture: an environment suited to international standards and a unique laboratory of 750 square metres that is going to combine traditional modelling with digital technologies.

Further to that, many green spaces: the terraces, where everyone will be able to enjoy events immersed in nature; and a wood, with over 130 trees, that is going to connect the historic Trifoglio and Nave buildings of the Milan master Gio Ponti, likewise redeveloped and enhanced.

The works began in August 2018 with the demolitions, but it is on this day that construction starts. It is also today that the Politecnico addresses those who want to co-invest in the development of the city and in innovation projects.

“To reduce the University’s budgeted costs, at Renzo Piano’s suggestion and similarly to what has been done at the Columbia University of New York, we have launched the first fundraising campaign for a university campus – explains Ferruccio Resta, rector of Politecnico di Milano – An initiative I would like to see perceived as an invitation to participate in a great work for the future of the city and the new generations”.

The fundraising campaign has already met with support from institutions that have expressed their interest in taking part in the investment, such as the Lombardy Region with EUR 5 million and Fondazione Cariplo with EUR 500.000.

Above all, however, there are already 227 citizens who, as a matter of pride and sense of belonging, because of the desire to see their city grow or contribute to the future of the new generations, have shared the project with an investment of EUR 517.160.

The fundraising campaign aims to collect EUR 10 million, offering donors, through the website www.sostienicampus.polimi.it, the possibility

- of taking part in specific fundraising initiatives, such as the forthcoming Polimirun;      
- of making a free donation;      
- of funding with fixed shares of varying extent the construction of the great hall and the new study rooms, planting one of the envisaged trees or laying a brick carrying their name;      
- of naming newly built classrooms, places and spaces.

The campaign will remain active until 2020, date of conclusion of the works.

The campus stems from an idea and sees the participation of Renzo Piano.

The development of the original concept, in the preliminary and final phases, including supervision of its execution, has been entrusted to Ottavio Di Blasi and his architectural firm.    
Supervision of the works and management of the construction site rest on Politecnico di Milano’s Conservation and Building Services.

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