The project of the corporate nursery is part of an expansion procedure of the headquarters of a United Nations institution dealing with the World Food Programme (WFP). The nursery is then a new pavilion whose functional program consists of three main sections (infants, semi-toddlers, and toddlers) with approximately equal dimensions to meet corporate needs and service offerings. The project takes into account a significant variability in the children’s group to be hosted: parents gravitating around the structure are often very young and frequently called to relocate for various cooperation missions.
Thus, the nursery will serve as a meeting place for children from different parts of the world and hence is conceived as a large multi-ethnic tent with a central space illuminated from above and two entrances, one main covered entrance, and the other for service. The internal spaces are designed as continuous surfaces without corners and obstacles, offering a fluid and protected environment.
The envelope is characterized by the geometric scanning of the vertical elements with a rich chromatic effect involving the children’s sensitivity through variable facade coloring. The nursery pavilion is located in a green area of 1900 sqm, planted with medium and tall trees (pomegranate, lime, holm oak), defined by a laurel hedge, and directly accessible from the classrooms. The roof of the building is a green roof contributing to energy control and optimal indoor climate values.

This childcare center was awarded LEED Platinum for its exemplary attention to detail in many sustainibility areas. One notable aspect was ensuring energy consumption control through the provision of a measurement and verification plan.

Sustainable management of construction waste was prioritized as majority of waste in an architectural project comes from construction.

Prioritizing the use of regional materials is important as long-distance transport can inherently produce more emissions than local building elements. The materials chosen are also made with highly recycled content. 

An energy-efficient building envelope ensures the management of air quality without using external resources that overhaul energy systems.

The indoor spaces also have high benefit regarding external views with many openings in the building envelope. Color Distribution
Site Sustainability: 22/26
Water Management: 6/10
Energy and Atmosphere: 29/35
Materials and Resources: 7/14
Indoor Environmental Quality: 13/15
Design Innovation: 6/6
Regional Priority: 4/4

Images by Alberto Novelli
Plan, section and elevation by AKA Architects
Design team: Federica Caccavale, Alessandro Casadei, Paolo Pineschi Mabel Aguerre, Angel Almendariz Fernandez, Elena Beccari, Blanca Bea Cirauqui, Laura Di Dario, Maria Gerardi, Marta Hrvatin, Maria Rita Longo, Davide Papagna, Silvia Pecci, Massimiliano Rea, Fabrizio Romano, Michele Russo, Luca Saccoccia, Marzio Scottoni, Alessandro Sepe