The new school in Ozzano Emilia, in the province of Bologna, named after Enrico Panzacchi, is a space open to the public, with the gym and auditorium accessible even outside of school hours.

Three simple volumes are arranged on a regular modular grid and positioned to define a public fa̤ade, along which the facilities accessible to the entire community Рthe gym and auditorium Рare located.

The school gym in Ozzano Emilia is large enough to accommodate a regulation basketball court and can potentially be divided into two sections using a curtain system with a supporting beam.

A row of bleachers extends along the entire north side of the gym, connecting the building to the school level via concrete steps and seating. The court flooring is made of flexible, non-slip, and impact-resistant PVC.

Open to the community outside of school hours, the gym features a large glass façade facing the street.
The entrance hall serves as the hub for all functions and is also used as the foyer for the auditorium and the entrance to sports activities.

The outdoor areas are, in every respect, integral parts of the school grounds: located between the gym and the school is the Viale delle Esperienze, a gathering place overlooking the sports activities that connects the workshops from the outside.

In addition to general architectural livability features, the perceived quality of the spaces is crucial; this is achieved through an appropriate mechanical and electrical design and a comprehensive comfort assessment that takes into account the building’s lighting characteristics – both natural and artificial – climate control across the different seasons, and the ability for users to adjust and customize acoustic quality to their needs, depending on the various contexts of the school environment.