San Giusto School Complex: A Space for Inclusion and Accessibility

Close attention to inclusiveness and the diverse education needs of students distinguishes Colucci&Partners’ design of a new secondary school within Prato’s San Giusto school complex.

Conceived as both an accessible learning environment for all and a community landmark, the building’s understated and compact massing reflects the Tuscan city’s industrial nature. The school is located among several existing facilities.

The design team approached the façade – with its dynamic, wavelike perforated sheet metal cladding – as fabric draped over a simple and regular mass that rests on a base of modular concrete panels. Recessed window reveals further punctuate the façades, enhancing their plasticity and the interplay of light.

Spanning two levels, the building has 610 m² of floor space. At ground level is a large, double-height entrance that adjoins the reception area. The space includes five classrooms for general teaching, an adaptable learning space for students with disabilities, restrooms, and stairs leading to the upper floor. Upstairs there are five classrooms, a large circulation space, the staffroom with records room, and restrooms.

The project also includes a paved outdoor area with seating and trees, offering students a space to relax before and after lessons.

Structurally, the building utilizes platform-frame timber construction for both vertical and horizontal partitions, supported by a reinforced concrete mat foundation laid on a subgrade of crushed quarry aggregate. The opaque exterior surfaces are insulated with high-density mineral wool panels.

Complementing the perforated, wavelike metal cladding, the base and window frames are finished in fiber cement, which is also used for the recessed sections of the façade. This material palette creates a sense of lightness and transparency while referencing Prato’s traditional industrial character.

The transparent surfaces have thermal break aluminum frames with low-emissivity, solar-control glazing. Inside, natural, eco-friendly materials prevail, including double plasterboard walls, suspended ceilings with wood fiber panels, and plasterboard finishes. The floors are porcelain stone, while the bathroom surfaces are ceramic tiles.

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