Technical School Cesare Correnti | Carla Abarca

The project was developed during Refurbishment Studio derived from a Refurbishment Competition.

It is focused on carving a new “public space” along an existing Technical School transforming it into a new underground meeting space containing public facilities connected through two accessible wide ramps with the existing street level (educational level) while improving the educational layout on the upper levels according to the requirements.

The following changes were done on the existing layout:

The existing auditorium located on the street level in the center of the building was relocated into the underground level and was replaced by an Entrance Hall connected with the main vertical circulation for students mainly.
The existing Gym located in the back of the school was relocated into the underground level of the laboratories building having the possibility to have a double height for sportive activities.

The sustainable strategies applied in this project were:

- Rainwater harvesting system incorporated on the roof of the H volume of the school to provide water supply to the different levels of the school.

- PV Panels incorporated on the roof of the laboratories to provide energy for electricity purposes of the school.

- Bifold panels in perforated corten steel facade working as shadding device to avoid overheating in summer, were implemented on the existing south and east facades.

- Use of ground heat exchanger for heating system during winter.

- Fire protection coating in labs.