A new chapter begins at the University of Verona with the opening of Biologico 3, a building designed for teaching, research, and student life within the Science and Technology Campus.

The project was developed by Politecna Europa, together with Arc2Lab, to create a place where classrooms, laboratories, and social spaces come together in harmony — continuing the dialogue with the nearby Biology Institutes and the Borgo Roma district.

Launched in 2018, the project translates the University’s vision into a clear, flexible, and inclusive architecture: a unified structure where well-defined pathways, bright communal areas, and state-of-the-art technical systems support the needs of staff and students, while ensuring ease of management and maintenance throughout the building’s lifecycle.

From design to construction, Politecna Europa coordinated every phase of the project using an end-to-end BIM approach. This digital model made it possible to align architecture, engineering, and systems, anticipate and resolve issues in advance, and keep time and costs under control — all while working within an active campus.

Spread over four floors and covering 4,500 square metres, Biologico 3 can host up to 1,170 students. Teaching spaces have been designed for maximum flexibility, adapting quickly to different formats and needs. In addition, study areas, informal meeting points, and rest zones encourage collaboration and a sense of community among students.

The building complies with NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standards as well as the Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM). Design choices regarding envelope and systems were informed by in-depth analyses carried out during the planning phase to reduce energy consumption, improve comfort, and limit emissions throughout the building’s entire lifecycle. BIM adoption further ensured full traceability of decisions and consistency between environmental objectives, performance targets, and construction details.

With Biologico 3, the University of Verona strengthens its Science and Technology Campus: a place that is welcoming, easy to navigate, and designed to support teaching, research, and student life well into the future.

Politecna Europa reached 37th place in the Guamari 2024 “THE TOP 200 ARCHITECTURE (AND DESIGN) FIRM” ranking, climbing an impressive 11 positions from last year.
This achievement reflects our commitment to designing not only innovative spaces, but places that cherish the past, serve the present and look to the future.

Creating sustainable, resilient and community-friendly architecture is at the heart of our mission.

View the full ranking here.

We are thrilled to share a milestone that marks an extraordinary achievement for Politecna Europa. Our company has ranked fifth in the “Growth Champions of Italian Architecture” 2019-2023, a ranking compiled by Guamari and published in Enti Locali & Edilizia (Gruppo 24 Ore).

This prestigious recognition highlights an extraordinary growth rate of +851.7% over the past five years, reaffirming Politecna Europa’s position as one of the most dynamic and innovative firms in the Italian architectural landscape. Such an accomplishment results from a clear and ambitious strategic vision grounded in innovation, sustainability, and an unwavering commitment to quality in every stage of the design process.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the decisive contribution of our highly skilled team and the collaboration of our trusted partners. Politecna Europa excels in tackling complex challenges and delivering innovative solutions to meet today’s market demands,” explains Luca Massimo Giacosa, CEO of Politecna Europa.
“Being recognised among the ‘Growth Champions’ inspires us to continue our path with even greater determination. We look to the future to design spaces and solutions in the civil and infrastructure sectors that generate value for communities and the environment, leverage our talented professionals’ expertise and harness the potential of new technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance every stage of the design and management process.”

Click here to view the full ranking.

Preserving the past while embracing the future is the delicate balance contemporary architecture must achieve, especially when revitalising historic heritage. Every building tells a story, a layering of memory and identity that cannot be overlooked. But how can we reconcile respect for the past with the demands of functionality, sustainability, and modernity? 

Politecna Europa has taken up this challenge, combining expertise in conservation with an innovative design approach. A concrete example is the project for the Former Randaccio Barracks here, we are working to breathe new life into a historic building through an intervention that will transform it into a hub for modern offices, integrating sustainable solutions that respect the original architectural context. To delve deeper into this topic, we interviewed Marco Nota, architect and Head of Historical and Architectural Heritage Conservation at Politecna, who guided us on a fascinating journey through the historical legacy and the future of spaces.

Marco, why is it essential to restore historic architecture?
Historic architecture is a part of our collective identity. We often think of it as something to be admired, but it is also affected by time and change. It’s the responsibility of designers to ensure that these structures don’t fade away but remain relevant. There is also a sustainability factor: think of the land used for new construction today while existing buildings are left to decay. Our country is rich in heritage – barracks, palaces, villas, theatres – that have been defeated by time, but with careful restoration, they can be rehabilitated and brought back into use. 

What are the main challenges for designers working in historical contexts?
The main challenge is to reconcile legal requirements with design needs. At Politecna, thanks partly to our collaboration with Planet, we are firmly committed to innovation and always looking for new solutions to improve people’s experience. The challenge is to see conservation regulations as not a limitation but an opportunity. At Politecna, we’ve developed many exemplary projects in this field. Today, we are one of Italy’s most successful companies in heritage restoration. 

We are first in the ranking for the Final Design and works related to the Redevelopment and Renovation of the building located at 4-6 via Vanchiglia in Turin, Italy, set to become university residence.