Top Lighting that Shapes Learning Spaces

By Editorial Staff - 15 December 2025
Caoduro has participated in the project

Light, color and fluid, nature-connected spaces form the heart of Campus Kid in San Lazzaro di Savena, a combined school, gym and community auditorium designed to foster both intellectual and physical growth. Conceived by Mario Cucinella and his practice, the project has positioned itself as a benchmark for innovation in sustainable school architecture, offering bright, comfortable interiors. A key role was played by Caoduro, the Vicenza-based firm specializing in top-lighting systems – especially polycarbonate domes and skylights – and natural ventilation. The firm supplied 37 domes that punctuate the roof, channeling abundant natural light into the building and elevating the everyday experience of teaching and learning.

The 126 FX domed skylights are built in triple-wall polycarbonate, with an opaline-white outer sheet and two transparent inner layers. Each unit is mounted on a 70-cm-high fiberglass upstand shaped as a truncated cone and finished in smooth white on the inside to maximize light reflection. Daylight is essential to the well-being of everyone who inhabits these spaces – students, teachers and the wider community – and polycarbonate plays a key role: it offers excellent light diffusion along with superb insulation and durability. For safety, all openings are fitted with fall-protection grilles.

Technology has added further value to both the building and the domed skylights themselves. Each unit is equipped with a weather-monitoring system consisting of a climate sensor and a dedicated control unit. When adverse conditions are detected, perhaps strong winds or rainfall, the system can close the skylights automatically. This safety feature plays a key preventive role, helping protect the interior spaces of the Campus Kid complex from bad weather while also safeguarding the skylights from potential damage. Certification is equally significant. Caoduro’s domes are manufactured and tested in compliance with European standards governing CE marking – specifically UNI EN 1873 – guaranteeing the reliability and performance of the components installed.

As the company notes, this project demonstrates how “Architecture, through its functional and innovative design, can respond effectively to the challenges of a world in constant evolution”, beginning with those faced in contemporary educational and school-building environments.