2026 -
Education
From railway workshop to university hub
Capannone 15 B/C, part of the former Officine Reggiane complex, was built in the early twentieth century as a workshop for the construction and repair of railway equipment. After the 1944 bombings and the closure of the factory, the building remained unused for many years, with structural and building systems issues that prevented its reuse.
Today, it hosts the fourth urban campus of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, within the wider transformation of the Officine Reggiane area into a hub for research and innovation.
The regeneration process
The project began with soil remediation and the removal of compromised internal elements. The new layout was developed while keeping the original structure clearly recognisable, preserving its proportions and industrial character while adapting it to current standards of safety and comfort.
The building now includes classrooms, laboratories, conference rooms and faculty offices. The functions are organised around a large covered internal square, which structures the circulation routes and becomes a meeting place for students, professors and the city.
The restored steel structure remains visible and becomes part of the identity of the space, creating a clear connection between the building’s industrial past and its new university function.
Technical integration and regulatory upgrading
The design coordinated structural, building systems and fire safety aspects from the earliest phases, together with safety coordination during the design stage. The aim was to make the building fully compliant with contemporary standards without altering its construction identity.
The project now stands as an example of architectural and structural regeneration, combining historic identity with functional innovation.
Watch the project presentation video
For a technical insight into the steel structures adopted in the project, see the dedicated publication by Promozione Acciaio.
Photos and video: Kai-Uwe Schulte Bunert and Tommaso Cabassi
Press review:
24 Emilia
Reggionline
Il Resto del Carlino
Reggio 2000
Gazzetta di Parma
Categories
Retail and Offices, Education
City
Reggio Emilia
Nation
Italy
Status
Completed
Year
2024
Client
STU Reggiane SpA
Project Partners
Zamboni Associati Architettura, Studio T.En. and Studio Silva
Key Points
- Regeneration of a historic industrial building transformed into a new university hub, within a wider urban regeneration project.
- Recovery and integration of the existing structures, with upgrading to current safety and performance standards while preserving the building’s original identity.
- Coordinated structural and building systems design, including fire safety and safety coordination.
Expertise
Project team
Alberto Calza
Letizia Gilardi
Ardilio Magotti
Salvatore Sestito
Nello Tafuro
Ivo Bertolini
Andrea Bianchini
Carlotta Pivetti
Alberto Rosi
Categories
Retail and Offices, Education
City
Reggio Emilia
Nation
Italy
Status
Completed
Year
2024
Client
STU Reggiane SpA
Project Partners
Zamboni Associati Architettura, Studio T.En. and Studio Silva
From railway workshop to university hub
Capannone 15 B/C, part of the former Officine Reggiane complex, was built in the early twentieth century as a workshop for the construction and repair of railway equipment. After the 1944 bombings and the closure of the factory, the building remained unused for many years, with structural and building systems issues that prevented its reuse.
Today, it hosts the fourth urban campus of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, within the wider transformation of the Officine Reggiane area into a hub for research and innovation.
The regeneration process
The project began with soil remediation and the removal of compromised internal elements. The new layout was developed while keeping the original structure clearly recognisable, preserving its proportions and industrial character while adapting it to current standards of safety and comfort.
The building now includes classrooms, laboratories, conference rooms and faculty offices. The functions are organised around a large covered internal square, which structures the circulation routes and becomes a meeting place for students, professors and the city.
The restored steel structure remains visible and becomes part of the identity of the space, creating a clear connection between the building’s industrial past and its new university function.
Technical integration and regulatory upgrading
The design coordinated structural, building systems and fire safety aspects from the earliest phases, together with safety coordination during the design stage. The aim was to make the building fully compliant with contemporary standards without altering its construction identity.
The project now stands as an example of architectural and structural regeneration, combining historic identity with functional innovation.
Watch the project presentation video
For a technical insight into the steel structures adopted in the project, see the dedicated publication by Promozione Acciaio.
Photos and video: Kai-Uwe Schulte Bunert and Tommaso Cabassi
Press review:
24 Emilia
Reggionline
Il Resto del Carlino
Reggio 2000
Gazzetta di Parma
Key Points
- Regeneration of a historic industrial building transformed into a new university hub, within a wider urban regeneration project.
- Recovery and integration of the existing structures, with upgrading to current safety and performance standards while preserving the building’s original identity.
- Coordinated structural and building systems design, including fire safety and safety coordination.
Expertise
Project team
Alberto Calza
Letizia Gilardi
Ardilio Magotti
Salvatore Sestito
Nello Tafuro
Ivo Bertolini
Andrea Bianchini
Carlotta Pivetti
Alberto Rosi
