Ready for Education 3.0

Monastier di Treviso is a small but sprawling municipality in the province of Treviso (Veneto region). In 2018, it announced a competition to modernise and enhance the seismic and energy efficiency of its school complex, an ageing structure built over a period of several decades. The main components of this complex include the kindergarten and primary school, which were built between 1989 and 2010. Adjacent to these, there is also a middle school dating back to the early 20th century.

The competition was won by MATE Engineering, in collaboration with Poolmilano for structural elements and Professionisti srl for installations. Together, they revised and updated the school complex, making it safer, greener, user-friendly and more open to the town and local community, in keeping with the latest trends in educational design.

The overall project cost a total of €2.377 million and includes a kindergarten with 3 sections for 90 pupils (760 sqm), a primary school with 10 classrooms for 250 pupils (1,800 sqm) and a middle school with 6 classrooms for 150 pupils that completely replaced the previous structure (1,620 sqm).

The project involved multiple aspects, including a significant transformation of the existing structure and the creation of a new building. This overhaul improved its seismic resilience in line with the 2018 Technical Construction Standards, enhanced the building envelope and system of installations to create a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), and ensured comprehensive fire safety compliance. Energy efficiency was a crucial aspect of the project and allowed access to funding from the GSE Thermal Account incentive scheme (€1.730 million) in return for the possibility of expanding the complex by up to 25% compared to its existing volume while meeting contemporary seismic, energy and accessibility standards.

The design choices were guided by functional and regulatory requirements along with educational and pedagogical considerations, resulting in modern, hi-tech learning environments. According to architect Maurizio Pavani, “the new educational spaces facilitate innovative teaching methods, including the DADA (Didactics for Learning Environments) methodology, the use of 3.0 classrooms equipped with computer devices alongside traditional textbooks, outdoor education initiatives and educational guidance programmes.” In the new classrooms, fibre-optic cables and interactive whiteboards complement flexible spaces and furnishings that adapt to different teaching needs and types of work, whether group or individual. Abundant natural light filters through full-height windows, establishing a connection with the outside greenery.

The new integrated yet independently accessible auditorium also serves as a civic centre for the community and as a well-equipped venue for meetings, performances and discussions.

The uniform, bright interiors are designed to be as warm and homelike as possible. Durability, ease of cleaning and hygiene were major priorities for the floors, corridors, and horizontal and vertical surfaces in the service areas, including the bathrooms. Italian ceramic products from Marazzi’s Stream collection in the Ivory colour were chosen for these surfaces and were installed seamlessly on both floors and walls. Marazzi’s porcelain stoneware also aids accessibility thanks to the use of dedicated Colour Plan Autonomy elements that serve to identify routes for the visually impaired.