The Istituto Statale di Istruzione Secondaria Superiore Fabio Besta in Treviso has been redesigned to strengthen the relationship between the school and the city, improving access and establishing a clear visual connection with the historic center. What was once an enclosed plot has been transformed into a public park that also functions as the school’s garden. A boulevard extends into the green space, leading to a generous entrance marked by a weeping willow—an explicit reference to Louis Kahn’s idea that “schools began with a man under a tree.”

The park is articulated through a series of resting areas, while a wooded zone to the north is integrated into the broader landscape design. Around the building, new paved surfaces create a smoother continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. The overall intention is to dismantle the sense of separation between the school and the city by increasing permeability and inviting public use.

Architecturally, the project retains around 90% of the existing concrete structure. At its center, the courtyard becomes the key interface between school and city: inspired by the cloisters of monasteries, it works as both a social condenser and the main access point to the school’s public functions, including the gym, library, study room, and cafeteria. Additional functional spaces are organized on the upper floors, with particular attention to safety and performance requirements, such as fire-resistant doors, gas tightness, and improved thermal insulation.

Overall, the project pursues a balanced exchange between the school and its urban context, removing physical and visual barriers while providing welcoming, efficient spaces that can serve both the educational community and the city at large.