"Antonio Brancati" Middle School
New Construction
- Building Type : School, college, university
- Construction Year : 2018
- Delivery year : 2020
- Address 1 - street : Lamarmora 61122 PESARO, Italy
- Climate zone : [Csb] Coastal Mediterranean - Mild with cool, dry summer.
- Net Floor Area : 2 430 m2
- Construction/refurbishment cost : 3 175 579 €
- Number of Pupil : 375 Pupil
- Cost/m2 : 1306.82 €/m2
Certifications :
-
Primary energy need
26.8 kWhpe/m2.year
(Calculation method : )
This building was awarded the Energy & Temperate Climates Prize at the international level and a mention for the Sustainable Construction Grand Prize at the national level of the Green Solutions Awards 2020-21.
The new secondary school “Antonio Brancati” in Pesaro (Italy) got three first:
- The highest scoring “Schools” energy environmental certification in Europe;
- The third highest scoring “Schools” energy environmental certification in the world out of 1,733 certifications in LEED system;
- The highest scoring v4 “Schools” certification in the world.
This is a new school built on an abandoned urban area and it has a very important role also in terms of social sustainability, not only as an excellent green building.
Since the beginning, the decision of the municipality was made to reuse the site for a school with zero land consumption by redeveloping the abandoned urban area, and replacing three old army barracks built in 1950 with the new middle-school.
This school building excellence is the result of the ambitious commitment of Pesaro municipality to preserve the environment and tackle climate change. The City of Pesaro has refocused the mandate of local construction on efficiency, sustainability, and responsibility.
In 2017, the City of Pesaro launched a pilot project with the aim of encouraging a holistic approach towards circular economy principles to ensure the building design responds to environmental protection, health and well-being and other social considerations.
The ambition of Pesaro City is to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, enabling construction firms to use a new system beyond the current outdated ‘take-make-dispose’ model and contribute to mainstreaming the circular economy concept within and outside the city.
Instead of taking a traditional approach to developing works procurement, the city decided to adopt a more circular approach which would be to build a sustainable new school using the current asset.
The intent was to optimise circularity and enhance the use of sustainable building material and technologies, save raw materials, and minimise waste from the construction of the building.
The analysis of not only educational needs but also citizens expectations for use was the central theme: to make the building more circular in terms of its functionality and make sure that it can be used by everyone all day, every day to become a wonderful community space for all the citizens.
The call for tender describes technical specifications and provides measurable requirements against which the tenders can be evaluated. Performance-based criteria describe the expected results and which outputs are mandatory. In the case of this project, two criteria were selected as mandatory: (a) obtaining a nZEB school and (b) providing the environmental energy certification using the LEED certification scheme, achieving at minimum, the LEED Gold certification.
As a result, the tender includes technical specification on energy efficiency, product lifecycle, waste management, water efficiency, with attention paid to internal comfort to create the best indoor environmental conditions for the students and teachers. It is relevant not only the energy consumption reduction but also the indoor quality for the students and staff through acoustics, air quality and thermal comfort requirements. These results are guaranteed by the LEED environmental energy certification made mandatory in the tender notice obtaining the LEED v4BD+C with the score of 88 points.
The project is successful because it achieves the goal of a building that is extraordinary in every sustainable LEED evaluation area and the records achieved are the confirmation of this. The tendering process can be replicated by other municipalities to obtain not only energy efficiency buildings but above all to reduce the buildings’ carbon footprint.
This project provides the first concrete example in mainstreaming circular practices in public procurement. The innovativeness of this project is to take into practice circular principles within the public procurement and ensure that the procedure runs efficiently and obtains the expected results based on environmental and social requirements.
This project also demonstrates that the Green Public Procurement process where environmental requirements are made mandatory within the tendering process using predetermined award criteria is essential for delivering environmental social value, influencing the market towards sustainable materials and products, improving new skills on green jobs.
School requirements achieved:
Low impact school:
- construction and demolition waste management, and also waste management during the construction phase;
- zero land consumption;
- EPD material labelling.
Waste management:
During all the process 556,630 kg of waste were created and thanks to all material flows monitored 546,378 kg was recycled and recovered achieving a 98% recovered waste. The school is also equipped with separate collection bins for paper, metal, plastic and glass.
Architectural design:
The shape and position of the building was studied and orientated to best exploit solar radiation and optimize the free solar gains and natural lighting and shading;
Due to the mooth tone-in-tone colours of the facade, the building is harmonious within the context creating a friendly new space for all the citizens.
Labeling:
LEED Platinum with 88 points – nZEB standard
Comfort for all:
- Remote and customized temperature
- both natural and artificial light control
- high acoustic performance obtained to create the best environment for learning and teaching
- parking for bicycles, electric charging stations for cars
- indoor air quality by mechanical filtered ventilation climate system with a CO2 monitoring able to guarantee higher levels of indoor air quality with the air exchange of 5 volumes per hour
- natural ventilation thanks to opening in the upper window sections
Indoor air quality:
Mechanical filtered ventilation climate system with a CO2 monitoring able to guarantee higher levels of indoor air quality with the air exchange of 5 volumes per hour
Natural ventilation:
Thanks to openings in the upper window sections
Solar control:
Integrated and motorized shutters with sensors for light and overheating control
Green roof:
Made of Mediterranean plants with low water need to moderate the impact of high temperatures, capture storm water, abate pollution, and act as carbon sinks, while enhancing biodiversity
Reused rainwater:
Rainwater collecting tanks for green spaces, and the green roof
Water consumption reduction:
Water consumption has been reduced thanks to taps with aerators that reduce water flow by 50%, and flash-water tanks.
Envelope efficiency:
The ventilated wall made of modular porcelain stoneware avoids overheating, minimize losses, and also reduces the maintenance costs of the facade
Energy Consumption Reduction:
-59,07% considering TEP reduction compared to standard construction (UNI TS 11300 and UNI EN 15193) and - 34,8% reduction of annual costs thanks to:
- Envelope efficiency: the thermal insulation, the thoroughly study of thermal bridges, the green roof and ventilated wall made of modular porcelain stoneware avoids overheating, minimize losses and reduces also the maintenance costs of the façade
- the high efficiency heat recovery unit
- optimized lighting (LED)
- automatic consumption monitoring control system to make also friendly and easy the use of building
Renewable energy:
Optimal production of electric energy due to the PV panels
- Photovoltaic installation of 158,40 m2;
- n. 96 photovoltaic modules of 300Wph and 1,96 m2 each
- Photovoltaic power ratings 28,8 Kw continuous current
- Inverter Solaredge 27,6KW alternate current
- Not expensive PV system due to the envelope high performance
- 113,5 kW heat pump
- heating system: floor heating and VAV system (variable air volume)
- cooling system: floor cooling and VAV system (variable air volume)
See more details about this project
https://www.macrodesignstudio.it/?portfolio=nuova-scuola-secondaria-antonio-brancati-a-pesarohttps://gbcitalia.org/web/guest/-/a-pesaro-la-prima-scuola-leed-platinum-d-europa
https://www.ingenio-web.it/29662-risposta-ai-cambiamenti-climatici-della-citta-di-pesaro-la-scuola-brancati-edificio-piu-sostenibile-deuropa
https://www.ingenio-web.it/29463-primato-europeo-per-la-nuova-scuola-antonio-brancati-di-pesaro-certificata-leed-v4-platino
https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/a-pesaro-scuola-certificata-leed-platinum-ADA3lKNB
Photo credit
Margherita Finamore photo credit
Formula Servizi & Idrotermica Coop (Sunset comunicazioni) video credit
Contractor
Construction Manager
Stakeholders
Construction company
Idrotermicacoop
Michele Gardella gardella[a]idrotermicacoop.it
https://idrotermicacoop.it/technical assistant for mechanical plants
Construction company
Formulaservizi
Mirco Valdifiori mircovaldifiori[a]formulaservizi.it
https://www.formulaservizi.ittechnical assistant of the construction
Construction company
SIEM IMPIANTI
Michele Meazzini meazzini[a]siemimpianti.it
https://www.siemimpianti.it/technical assistant for eletric plants
Certification company
MDS MacroDesignStudio
Giorgia Lorenzi giorgia.lorenzi[a]macrodesignstudio.it
https://www.macrodesignstudio.it/LEED-AP
Contractor representative
Pesaro Municipality
Margherita Finamore m.finamore[a]comune.pesaro.pu.it
http://www.comune.pesaro.pu.it/Project Manager
Construction company
CONSCOOP - CONSORZIO FRA COOPERATIVE DI PRODUZIONE E LAVORO - Formula Servizi - Forlì - Idrotermica Coop - Forlì - SIEM Impianti – Cesena (FC)
Mirco Valdifiori mircovaldifiori[a]formulaservizi.it - Forlì
Contracting method
Other methods
If you had to do it again?
I would study better the impacts of the materials to prove the circularity of the building, as if it was a bank of materials. I would improve the eco-design and the use of bio-based materials to assure that the building would be dismantled as much as possible, to maximize the quantity of re-usable materials. I would also improve the use of light structure assembly technology to have a clean and environmental friendly construction site.
Building users opinion
Users are generally very satisfied. Four categories are considered: the point of view of the teachers, the students, the school assistants, and the parents.
A campaign to collect data is already planned. It should consists of individual reports and interviews, but due to the present COVID-19 situation, it hasn't started yet.
All users appreciate the brightness of the natural and artificial light as desired, the acoustic comfort due to the absence of background noise in the classrooms or any noise disturbance from outdoor, the thermal comfort which is tailor-made in every classroom thanks to the sensors, and the view of the park surrounding the school.
The students appreciate very much the glass walls of the classes that allow them to see the other classes, thus generating a sense of community.
What users especially liked the most, particularly the parents, is the indoor air quality (especially considering the present COVID-19 situation) thanks to the mechanical filtered ventilation climate system, with a CO2 monitor, able to guarantee higher levels of indoor air quality, reducing the risk of contagion.
The general opinion is that this school creates an environment friendly spaces where students can be educated on sustainability, aware of being part of a community, and can understand how important the relationship between the human being and the environment is.
Energy consumption
- 26,80 kWhpe/m2.year
- 55,10 kWhpe/m2.year
Envelope performance
- 0,22 W.m-2.K-1
- 0,38
- 2,26
More information
The school has been operational since the beginning of the school year, 17th Sept. 2020. The real consumptions and performances have been monitored by the Department of Industrial Engineering DIN (University of Bologna) for 4 years to check all the comfort data. At the moment the monitoring is in progress. A blower door test has been realized to assure the effectiveness of the envelope.
Real final energy consumption
60,76 kWhfe/m2.year
Systems
- Condensing gas boiler
- Heat pump
- Low temperature floor heating
- VAV System
- Heat pump
- Reversible heat pump
- VAV Syst. (Variable Air Volume system)
- Floor cooling
- Double flow heat exchanger
- Solar photovoltaic
- Heat pump
- 57,00 %
Smart Building
Urban environment
- 3 649,00 m2
- 23,50 %
- 10 321,00
Product
Heat pump NRL 0280/0750
AIRMEC
https://global.aermec.com/it/
Air/water reversible heat pump
This product helps to achieve the LEED scoring on the minimum and enhanced energy performance
ECP AHU - RHOSS AHU 6.02
RHOSS S.p.A. ITALY
https://www.rhoss.com/it/
Air Handling Unit ADV
This product helps to achieve the LEED scoring on the minimum and enhanced energy performance and on air quality Minimum and IAQ Performance
P3 DUCTAL CARE PLUS
P3 Italy
https://www.p3italy.it/
air channels
Keratwin K20 - ventilated wall system AGROB-20
AGROB BUCHTAL
https://agrob-buchtal.de/en/architect-plannerSecond œuvre / Peinture, revêtements muraux
extruded ceramic titles for wall coverings in outdoor areas used for the ventilated wall facade
CELENIT AB

CELENIT S.p.A.
https://www.celenit.comSecond œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
Thermal and acoustic insulation in buildings - Suspended ceilings used in buildings
MR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations
DOP VAEPLAN F / V FR / V
Derbigum
https://www.derbigum.itSecond œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
roof waterproof
SS credit Heat Island ReductionMR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations
smartroof_thermal

Knauf
https://www.knaufinsulation.itSecond œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
Rock mineral wool SmartRoof Base and SmartRoofThermal are used as a thermal, acoustical and fireinsulation product.
MR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product DeclarationsMR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials
FSD 20 / PLUS-E/PRO 80 / PRO 170 TIPO/ ROOF SOIL/SEDUM/STABILFILTER SFE
DAKU
https://www.daku.itSecond œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
green roof
SS credit Heat Island Reduction
COVER 80
MAYER & CO BESCHLAGE
https://www.maco.eu/it-IT/MaicoSecond œuvre / Menuiseries extérieures
wooden windows
MR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product DeclarationsMR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials
Isover X60 VN + Isover Clima 34

Saint Gobein
https://www.saint-gobain.itSecond œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
wall insulation
MR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product DeclarationsMR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials
Construction and exploitation costs
- 3 707 579,00 €
- 4 647 540,00 €
- 36 965,00 €
- 137 000 €
- 2 886 890 €
- 816 000 €
Energy bill
- 12 575,00 €
Life Cycle Analysis
Water management
- 1 897,00 m3
- 24,00 m3
Indoor Air quality
Comfort
GHG emissions
- 9,66 KgCO2/m2/year
- 520,40 KgCO2 /m2
- 60,00 year(s)
- 579,70 KgCO2 /m2
Margherita Finamore
Responsabile del Progetto (tecnico e amministrativo)/ Progettista e Direzione Lavori