The New Campus BBS: A Vision for the School of the New Millennium
9 September 2024The inauguration of the new campus of Bologna Business School marks a turning point for the School and for managerial education in Italy. Designed by architect Mario Cucinella, the campus is a strategic investment that reflects BBS’s vision as a School for the New Millennium.
Conceived to promote innovation and respond to the needs of interdisciplinary and sustainable education, the project aims to strengthen BBS’s international competitiveness, offering not only to students but also to the extended BBS Community—including alumni, faculty, professionals, businesses, and institutions—an avant-garde space for growth and innovation. “Our growth has led us to consider the expansion of spaces,” explained Dean Max Bergami, “both to meet existing demand and to anticipate future needs in response to a rapidly evolving society.”
The new BBS campus covers an area of over 35,000 square meters, adjacent to the historic Villa Guastavillani, the School’s home since its foundation. The villa, built in 1575 and restored for the Jubilee of 2000, represents the historical roots of BBS, intertwined with the modernity of the new architectural complex. The project creates a visual dialogue between the new campus and the Bologna Hills, connecting with Villa Guastavillani through a grand staircase that symbolizes a bridge between past and present.
Sustainability is one of the central elements of the project. The campus was built by repurposing three unfinished buildings, using eco-sustainable materials such as wood and photovoltaic panels. The entire complex is powered by a solar panel system and features a rainwater collection system to reduce environmental impact. This approach reflects BBS’s goal of being at the forefront of sustainability.
The New BBS Campus stands out for its innovative interior design, aimed at surpassing the traditional concept of classrooms, as Mario Cucinella explained during the inauguration ceremony. All spaces are designed to foster interaction, experiential learning, and the exchange of ideas. These flexible and adaptable spaces allow for transforming a cafeteria into a study space or an auditorium into an art gallery, creating a dynamic environment that promotes collaboration and creativity.
The New Campus is the result of BBS’s commitment to pursuing its vision of a School that places experience at the center. By joining the Community, students not only acquire knowledge and techniques but also live a life-changing experience where the exchange of ideas and exposure to diverse perspectives and backgrounds play a fundamental role. With the new campus, Bologna Business School becomes even more a place where people come together, create, exchange ideas, and imagine projects, going beyond traditional theoretical and practical training.
But what do we mean when we talk about students and experiences at Bologna Business School? The School welcomes around 3,500 students from 65 different countries, offering a truly international and multicultural environment. As highlighted by Dean Max Bergami during the inauguration, “Bologna Business School is a 21st-century institution. It is rooted in the long history of the University of Bologna and offers the best of future-oriented education.”
The inaugural event saw the participation of prominent figures from the political and business world, including Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of Universities and Research, and Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari. Minister Bernini commented: “This is an important day for Bologna, but also for Emilia-Romagna and Italy. Here, the brightest minds of the country receive top-level education.”
Another key aspect of the project is the close collaboration between BBS and the business world. Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, shared: “When I arrived in Maranello, during interviews with all employees, I realized that those who had attended courses at BBS had one thing in common: they spoke to people.” This ability to always place people at the center, combined with the integration of academic and practical knowledge, is one of BBS’s strengths. The School aims to train a new generation of leaders capable of addressing the challenges of digital transformation and sustainability.
Dean Max Bergami emphasized how the new campus represents a milestone in BBS’s history: “Both symbolically and in substance, the opening of this campus reminds Italy, Europe, and the world that past, present, and future can thrive within the same institution.” Today, Bologna Business School is one of the 220 EQUIS-accredited business schools worldwide and continues to grow globally, thanks to an educational offering that integrates academic excellence with business needs.
The New BBS Campus is an example of how educational architecture can positively influence learning, creating a stimulating environment that fosters innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. As Romano Prodi concluded, “This is the final piece, but a strong, beneficial connection with the global and local productive world is increasingly necessary. We need a push in the field of higher education, where we cannot afford to fall behind other European countries.”
