Renewing Middle School Facilities

Maria Fianchini is an Associate Professor of Architectural Technology at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Italy. She graduated in Architecture in 1989 and subsequently specialized in monument preservation; she holds a Ph.D. in Building and Environmental Rehabilitation from the University of Genoa. Her research and educational work focuses mainly on performance analysis and project aspects relating to the existing buildings. Dr. Fianchini has completed several studies on learning environments as well as field research in schools and universities. She was the Scientific Lead for the research program “Back to School,” funded by DAStU.

• Foreword.- PART 1: Renewing Strategies for existing Schools.- Scenarios under change in school facility interventions, M. Fianchini.- Introduction.- The OECD programs and actions.- An overview on intervention strategies from some European countries.- The case of Italy.- Pedagogy and architecture, which dialogue is possible?.- Outdoor experience so to widen learning opportunities.- Resilient thinking and school infrastructure management.- PART 2: Updating Knowledge of Middle Schools.- Updating users’ needs framework in middle schools. A field research activity.- PART 3: Supporting Scool Communities.- The schoolyard. A space for school and neighbourhood communities.- A resilient view of school community actions.- A simplified toolbox for the operability assessment of the built environment in middle school buildings.