Constructor: Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário

Architects: António Moreira dos Santos, Porto

Location: Vila Nova de Famalicão, P

Completion: 2004

Photos: Werner Huthmacher, Berlin

The Instituto Politécnico is located in the city park of Vila Nova de Famalicão in northern Portugal. The new building was designed for a total of 1,500 students whereby the spatial programme consisted of two building parts: a wing for the lecture hall and one for the institute. The two wings are linked by a building volume where the hallways are and which opens to both sides with large windows. In the smaller wing, which is plastered white, in addition to the lecture hall there is also the students´ union. This building part looks predominantly closed, only a row of three windows lets daylight penetrate the lecture hall. In the wing with the institute are the administration, a library, laboratories and all the seminar rooms. Its aluminium shell is structured by horizontal bands of windows which gives the five-storey wing a clear and cool look. With its large, glazed areas, the whole ground level opens towards to the adjacent park.