This project involved the complete reconstruction of the former nursery school in Sarnano, which had been severely damaged by the 2016 earthquakes in central Italy.
The objective of the intervention was to restore a nursery school capable of accommodating four sections, each with a maximum capacity of 29 children.
In addition to meeting seismic and fire safety requirements — which allowed the building to achieve Class IV designation as a “strategic” structure — the project was carried out in compliance with the minimum standards set out in the Italian Ministerial Decree of 18 December 1975.
Both the design and construction phases placed primary focus on the quality of the building envelope and technical systems, with the aim of creating a high-performance NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) capable of ensuring highly efficient management of heating, cooling, and lighting systems.
To achieve this objective, several sustainable solutions were introduced, including photovoltaic panels installed on the roof and an independent rainwater recovery system for toilet flushing and irrigation purposes.
The building’s structural system is made of cast-in-place reinforced concrete. More specifically, the vertical load-bearing structures consist of circular-section columns and structural shear walls integrated within the perimeter enclosure walls. These walls were constructed using permanent EPS formwork systems, chosen for their excellent thermal and acoustic performance as well as their rapid installation process.
As anticipated, this solution proved highly effective not only in terms of thermal and acoustic efficiency, but also in resisting the horizontal stresses typically generated during seismic events. Intermediate floor slabs were constructed using EPS permanent formwork systems combined with cast concrete topping slabs.
The roof structure was built using glulam timber beams supported both by the perimeter load-bearing walls and by a central laminated timber beam running parallel to the building’s longer side.
All school spaces were designed entirely without architectural barriers and are therefore fully accessible to people with physical disabilities.
In addition to the main construction works, we also developed a vehicular access road connecting the lower level of the site, enabling direct access for emergency vehicles as well as for food supply deliveries and maintenance operations.
Finally, the external areas were substantially redesigned to include temporary parking spaces for student drop-off and pick-up, together with a shaped pedestrian pavement serving as a dedicated area for the school bus.
