Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic Division
- government
- Vicenza, Italy
Project Scope
114,114 SF for high school
Construction Type
Federal government - education
Project Delivery Method
Design-Bid-Build
Project Components
New high school building, athletic facilities, landscaping, site utility extensions, central plant modifications, and vehicular circulation infrastructure
Parkhill was the prime architectural/engineering firm for the new Vicenza High School in Italy. Parkhill’s task from the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) was to design schools to meet forward-thinking learning objectives, to be sustainable and exhibit energy conservation.
The site of the new high school, Villagio della Pace, meaning “Village of Peace,” is a gated housing community for US members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and their dependents. As part of the DoDEA master plan, the school optimally connects to a middle school and elementary school. The front design, including a piazza-like space with seating and landscaping, unifies the high school with the existing schools. Five learning neighborhoods surround a collaboration space with classrooms, a teacher collaboration area, restrooms, and conference rooms. The STEAM neighborhood area of the school features such innovations as digitized art of Italian composers and inspirational curriculum on the walls.
Parkhill developed construction contract documents in a close working relationship with Alberto Izzo & Partners S.r.L. of Naples, Italy. Parkhill was instrumental in coordinating collaboration between DoDEA, DoDEA-EU, the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District Design Center, and Vicenza staff and administrators to develop a program and building concept that delivered salient 21C educational initiative features.
Architectural and interior design included programming, planning charrettes, and full construction document production. More than 110 people comprised the building committee during the charette.
LEED/Sustainable Design
The construction project achieved LEED® certification, with renewable energy from solar water heating and photovoltaic electrical production, low-impact site development, construction waste management, water efficiency, energy efficiency, renewable materials, indoor environmental quality, and enhanced commissioning.
Management/Quality Control
This project demonstrates Parkhill’s capability to manage multiple project stakeholders, all with highly vested and sometimes-competing needs and agendas, while following federal and Italian design guides, codes and requirements. The diligent and collaborative efforts of Parkhill project managers provided complex coordination of all disciplines and stakeholders. The new Vicenza High School is on track to open in August of 2022.
Services provided
Architectural, interior, landscape, structural, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical, and fire suppression design, soils investigations, topographic surveys design and analysis of new reinforced foundations and structure
Sustainability/LEED
On track to be LEED certified
Project Leadership
At Parkhill, We're Designing and Building for
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