Bocconi University

In 2002, the Dublin-based Grafton Architects studio won the international competition for the expansion of the Luigi Bocconi University in Milan. The building, located between Viale Bligny and Via Roentgen, measures 70x160 m, with 6 above-ground floors and 3 underground. In autumn 2005, architects Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, together with Bocconi University technicians, visited our headquarters to assess the feasibility of the project, demonstrating their attention to detail and the quality of materials.

In the Bocconi University expansion project, Ceppo di Gré was used for flooring, stairs, facades, and ceilings, both indoors and outdoors, totaling approximately 27,000 m² of processed stone over 24 months. The roof coverings, on the other hand, were made of Aggloceppo® to optimize costs, using dry-laid slabs with an elevated system.

The interior flooring was laid raw, then filled and honed on-site, with variable widths and free lengths, while thicker slabs were used for driveways. The main staircase, made from 12 cm solid stone, integrates lighting in each step, while other internal and external stairs were made using traditional methods. For cladding, slabs were mounted on a grid system with AISI 304 stainless steel brackets, while ceilings were assembled with aluminum honeycomb panels anchored to a steel substructure.

The project reinterpreted Ceppo di Gré, a symbol of Milanese architecture, in a contemporary key, presenting a new challenge that led to the creation of innovative technical solutions thanks to collaboration with qualified partners. This effort received wide recognition, including First Prize in the "Learning" category and the prestigious title of World Building of the Year 2008 at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, confirming the work as an example of architectural excellence.