The complex includes four distinct secondary schools: two technical institutes (mining and chemical), a science school and an art school. Its spatial organisation, which brings together different school specialisms, incorporates five blocks (classrooms, administration and offices, concourse and lecture hall, laboratories and storerooms) that correspond to the complex's different functions.

These blocks have been arranged in sequence along a pre-existing curving footpath running downstream from the town of Agordo, in the Dolomite Mountains. The path also marks the town limits and so the school complex, which opens onto a view of the surrounding mountains, acts as the boundary between the town and the meadows of the valley floor.

The visual relationship with the majestic landscape of the Dolomites has stamped every aspect of the design: the views of the mountains have determined the layout of the school rooms, while the blocks have been designed so that they do not obstruct the view of the mountains from the town, which is set behind the complex.

The building is made up of a reinforced concrete load-bearing structure constructed from semi-prefabricated slabs. (These have been used both for the floors and, coupled together, for the construction of the load-bearing walls.) The building enclosure has been dry mounted on a secondary wooden structure: this is thermically insulated with cellulose and is faced with larch and fibre cement sheets. The heavy, spartan structure ensures that there is a high level of thermal accumulation: the subsequent cost saving has allowed the modest budget to stretch to a lighter, more expensive enclosure, one with a high insulating capacity.

The building uses a range of energy sources: geothermal, solar thermal, and photovoltaic. Studio Albori

School complex in Agordo (Belluno)
Architect: Studio Albori – Emanuele Almagioni, Giacomo Borella, Francesca Riva
Collaborators: Michele Alberti, Anna Vecchi, Lorenza Crotti, Paola Serventi, Ulrike Arsuffi, Alice Comandulli, Carlo Lunelli, Valeria Mirarchi, Claudio Rosiello, Maurizio Scarpaci, Linda Stagni, Sarah Trianni, Carlo Vanini
Services, energy analysis, building physics, general plan and general management: Gianluca Vigne – Areatecnica Vigne associati
Preliminary energy project: Günther Gantioler, TBZ srl
Structures: Studio Associato Ingegneria Civile SA04; Iconia Ingegneria Civile srl
Health and safety coordinator: Michele Vigne – Areatecnica Vigne associati
Geological surveys: Giorgio Giacchetti
Contractor: Impresa Costruzioni Tollot
Client: Fondazione Cariverona, Provincia di Belluno
Site area: 17.960 mq
Floor area: 7.150 mq
Design: 2006-2007
Construction: 2007-2009