"Antonio Brancati" Middle School
- by Margherita Finamore
- /
- 2021-03-26 16:21:46
- /
- International
- /
- 8962 / EN
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 €
- 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the transition towards a circular economy, enabling construction firms to use a new system beyond the current outdated ‘take-make-dispose’ model and contribute to mainstreaming the circular economy concept within and outside the city.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
Data reliability
3rd part certified
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 technical assistant for mechanical plantsConstruction company
Formulaservizi Mirco Valdifiori mircovaldifiori[a]formulaservizi.it technical assistant of the constructionConstruction company
SIEM IMPIANTI Michele Meazzini meazzini[a]siemimpianti.it technical assistant for eletric plantsCertification company
MDS MacroDesignStudio Giorgia Lorenzi giorgia.lorenzi[a]macrodesignstudio.it LEED-APContractor representative
Pesaro Municipality Margherita Finamore m.finamore[a]comune.pesaro.pu.it Project ManagerConstruction 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 - ForlìContracting method
Other methods
Owner approach of sustainability
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 ecological footprint of the building was at the centre of attention since the design phase and improved in the tender process to increase the building adaptability, durability, and resilience in accordance with the circular economy principles.
The intent was to optimise circularity and enhance the use of sustainable building materials 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 environmental impacts were improved by the tendering process to build a low energy concept school using good design to support not only passive heating and cooling technologies, but relevant active mechanisms as needed. Moreover, considering how green requirements will affect the procurement process for works and implementing them in line with the legal obligation, materials and methods of production and provision are considered when defining appropriate selection criteria. 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. These results are guaranteed by the environmental energy certification made mandatory in the tender notice and measured in accordance with the Minimum Environmental Criteria (MEC).
Architectural description
The project consists of replacing three old army barracks built in 1950 with the new middle-school located in a green abandoned area surrounded by a very densified neighbourhood of Pantano, near the city center of Pesaro. The decision of the municipality was made to reuse the site for a school with zero land consumption by redeveloping the abandoned urban area.
The program includes in addition to the construction of the school also the construction of a new gym at the service of the nearby elementary school. The plans of the school-gym are in progress.
With a gross surface area of approximately 2430 m², the school will accommodate some 375 students in 15 classrooms and 6 classrooms for special activities and one for music, a teacher meeting room, a canteen, multipurpose spaces, and a library also open to the local residents.
Since not all the stundents of the school use the canteen, it is also at the service of the primary nearby school. The canteen is planned to suit the needs of the families.
Even though it is strictly speaking a school building, the municipality aims to reach further and optimise circularity, so it is designed to act as a catalyst for the whole neighbourhood and its residents.
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 respond to this need, the entrance is a big hall to encourage circulation and interaction with others, so people can, meet others and stay to chat. The big hall has been planned as a mixed-use space that can be used like a conference hall by teachers and citizens. The design of the circulation pattern itself encourages people to sit down and use the circulation space.
The structure of the building is composed with reinforced concrete supporting partitions needed for the development of the double height space entrance hall and with the timber structure for the roof to contribute at achieving low environmental impact.
The classrooms are all located on the ground floor and the first floor and are visually linked together thanks to the glass walls, and the broad and bright corridors are designed to trigger spontaneous encounters and joint teaching and learning moments throughout the day.
By opting for a compact volume, the design was managed to minimalize the footprint and avoided further densification of the neighbourhood by simultaneously providing more than ample outdoor playground for the children with sport facilities.
When planning the building, relevance is given to thermo-hygrometric comfort, acoustic comfort, correct use of natural and artificial light, optimisation of the building envelope to maximise free benefits of the sun, appropriate use of water, choice of materials, use of appropriate technologies to maximize the energy performance with adjustable solar shading and green roof designed not only to insulate but also to mitigate water use and the heat island effect. All these features were part of the requirements for tender, so the construction firms had to respond to these criteria as part of the bidding process.
The coloured façade of the building is composed of a modular system of porcelain stoneware and finished with earthy colours introduces a smoothly playful dash of colour in the streetscape. The characteristic colour provides a strong and recognizable identity and establishes the school as a playful, eye-catching beacon for this vibrant neighbourhood.
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
- 60,76 kWhfe/m2.year
Envelope performance
- 0,22 W.m-2.K-1
- 0,38
- 2,26
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
GHG emissions
- 9,66 KgCO2/m2/year
- 520,40 KgCO2 /m2
- 60,00 year(s)
- 579,70 KgCO2 /m2
Life Cycle Analysis
- 508,30
Water management
- 1 897,00 m3
- 24,00 m3
Indoor Air quality
Health & Comfort
Product
-
Heat pump NRL 0280/0750
AIRMEC
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
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
air channels
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Keratwin K20 - ventilated wall system AGROB-20
AGROB BUCHTAL
Second œuvre / Peinture, revêtements muraux
extruded ceramic titles for wall coverings in outdoor areas used for the ventilated wall facade
-
CELENIT AB

Second 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
Second œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
roof waterproof
SS credit Heat Island ReductionMR credit Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declarations
-
smartroof_thermal

Second 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
Second œuvre / Cloisons, isolation
green roof
SS credit Heat Island Reduction
-
COVER 80
MAYER & CO BESCHLAGE
Second 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

Second 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 €
Urban environment
The site of the Middle School “Antonio Brancati” is located in Pantano a vibrant neighbourhood near to the city center, in the immediate vicinity of 2 other schools. The nearby sports ground are equipped with a large parking space that can be used in the daytime by students, parents, and teachers, to reach the school.
The school is equipped with a library for both school and communal use, and is open to the neighbourhood community all day long with independent access from the outside.
The aim of the whole project is to create a new “school campus” equipped with the new middle school already finished, the school-gym at the design phase both located in the green area replacing the old military barracks, a new primary school that will replace the old one on the other side of the street in front of the new school and a new building for multi purposes activities for the neighbourhood community on the other side of the street at the back of the new school.
The main entrance is located on the courtyard to make access safer and the school is also equipped with service side access from the internal parking space and with another courtyard access that will link to the new gym by a porch.
The courtyard is equipped with sports facilities for playing volley outside.
As the school is built in an existent neighbourhood, there are shops located not far away, bars, and a supermarket.
The municipality provides the public transport service for students who need it.
Land plot area
3 649,00 m2
Built-up area
23,50 %
Green space
10 321,00
Parking spaces
At the surface in the area surrounding the school are located 11 parking places, and 2 of them are equipped with an electric column for the supply of 2 electric vehicles, and 2 others are reserved for emergency vehicles. The area of the parking space is about 300 m2.
Along the road are located 7 new parking places of which 2 are equipped with an electric column for the supply of 2 electric vehicles; 2 for car-pooling, 1 for a green vehicle and 2 reserved for disabled person.
All these parking places are part of the school project and the road was also equipped with the pavement to reach the school safely also by bicycle.
At the entrance, the school was equipped with a covered roof for parking 16 bicycles, and there are other parking places for bicycles without any shelter.
The design of the whole outdoor area will be definitively completed when the gym will also be built.
Building Environmental Quality
- Building flexibility
- indoor air quality and health
- works (including waste management)
- consultation - cooperation
- acoustics
- comfort (visual, olfactive, thermal)
- waste management (related to activity)
- water management
- energy efficiency
- renewable energies
- maintenance
- integration in the land
- mobility
- building process
- products and materials
Author of the page
Margherita Finamore
Project Manager
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