Workspace Tables at Bologna Business School | UniFor

UniFor, a Molteni Group company since 1969, develops innovative furnishing systems that embody design excellence and craftsmanship, offering architects tailored solutions that respond to the evolving complexity of modern workplaces. The PRINCIPLES collection by UniFor was used in the newly inaugurated Bologna Business School campus, a project designed by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects and located in the hills near Bologna, Italy.

Inaugurated in September 2024, the new Bologna Business School campus expands the institution’s presence beyond the historic Villa Guastavillani, its home since the early 2000s. The campus is designed to host up to 3,500 international students, offering spaces that support flexible learning and collaborative exchange. The architecture creates a dialogue between past and present by integrating restored heritage structures—like the farmhouse and former oven—with new, purpose-built elements in a unified two-storey building with a basement level connected via a tunnel.

Architect Mario Cucinella envisioned the campus as a harmonious composition where nature, history, and innovation converge. The design emphasizes unity within diversity, with the new structure acting as a generative element that fosters empathy between people and their environment. Two terraced gardens and a large portico extend the usable space outdoors, while interior volumes are carefully arranged to optimize natural light and continuity across learning, dining, and leisure zones. Sustainable design strategies are embedded throughout: solar panels generate all required energy, adjustable louvres regulate sunlight, and a water reuse system supports summer operations.

To meet the evolving needs of the campus, UniFor provided furnishings from the PRINCIPLES collection by OMA, selected for its exceptional modularity and adaptability. In large lecture halls, semi-circular desks support frontal and interactive teaching formats. Smaller rooms are equipped with square and round tables to encourage group dialogue and flexibility in arrangement. In shared areas such as the canteen and study zones, star-shaped table configurations with central planters create inviting and functional settings for breaks or informal discussions. The reading room features linear tables designed to minimize distraction and support focused study.

Every PRINCIPLES table provided by UniFor includes integrated electrical connections to support digital devices, and lecterns are height-adjustable to accommodate varying ergonomic and functional needs. The result is a learning environment that adapts to a wide range of teaching styles and student activities, enhancing usability without compromising aesthetic cohesion. Through this collaboration, UniFor and MCA have delivered a campus that is not only a model of sustainable design but also a forward-thinking educational space that merges architecture and furnishings into a seamless, human-centered experience.