Designing acoustic comfort

Innovation, technological advancement, sustainability and efficiency are the defining principles of the “Roberto Rocca Innovation Building,” home to the new MEDTEC School, the joint degree programme in Medicine and Biomedical Engineering developed through the collaboration between Humanitas University and the Politecnico di Milano. These are, not coincidentally, the same values that have always guided Fantoni. From the production of materials and semi-finished components to the design of innovative workplace systems inspired by the latest principles of wellbeing and contemporary design, the company has established itself as a leading name in the sector. It is through this shared vision that a collaboration has taken shape – one that aims to help redefine the future of both scientific research and design.

Designed by Filippo Taidelli Architetto, the Roberto Rocca Innovation Building stands within the Humanitas University Campus, itself designed by the architect in 2017 on the outskirts of Milan. Covering 6,000 square metres across three levels, the building establishes both a physical and visual continuity with the surrounding campus while expressing a distinct architectural identity of its own. Its defining feature is a glazed envelope that creates a luminous “light box”, reinforcing the relationship with the surrounding park while maximising the use of natural daylight. This also plays a key role in the building’s energy strategy, which is founded on a holistic approach to sustainability and user wellbeing through advanced environmental solutions, including a ventilated double-skin façade, photovoltaic panels, optimised daylight management, highly efficient energy consumption and a geothermal system providing both heating and cooling.

Within this context, materials play a fundamental role. Taidelli chose timber – a material that is at once ancient, contemporary and remarkably versatile – valued for the warmth and expressive character of a living material that naturally evolves over time. The exposed beam-and-column timber structure is combined with reinforced concrete and glass, creating an architectural language that is both technical and welcoming. Inside, this architectural vision is reflected in an equally contemporary spatial layout. Open, multifunctional environments replace traditional hierarchies, encouraging dialogue, collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange, while remaining flexible enough to be reconfigured as needs evolve. As architect Filippo Taidelli explains: “A hangar for knowledge: a space capable of continually reconfiguring its layout to accommodate needs and functions we cannot yet imagine, allowing them to inhabit the building naturally and efficiently.” Within these spaces, researchers explore the frontiers of electron microscopy, 3D printing and artificial intelligence. Every aspect of the building is therefore oriented towards the future.

Fantoni’s contribution integrates seamlessly into this vision by providing the acoustic comfort that is essential to an environment designed around wellbeing and performance. The company supplied the sound-absorbing systems throughout the new building, drawing on its iconic 4akustik collection: a wood-based acoustic panel system engineered to achieve the highest standards of safety and indoor environmental quality. The system complies with the prestigious F Four Star standard under the Japanese JIS regulations – recognised as the world’s most stringent certification for ultra-low formaldehyde emissions – and remains the only wood-based acoustic panel to achieve B-s1,d0 fire reaction classification under European CE standards. This latest project builds upon a long-standing partnership that began with the original Humanitas University Campus, where Fantoni was responsible for the acoustic treatment of the shared spaces, including meeting rooms, conference halls, lecture theatres, corridors and hybrid learning environments. The intervention covered more than 4,000 square metres of acoustic wall and ceiling systems featuring entirely bespoke textures and decorative finishes. With the “Roberto Rocca Innovation Building,” that collaboration reaches a new milestone, completing a journey that began several years ago and demonstrating how architecture, research and design can work together to shape the future.

Architectural and interior design: arch. Filippo Taidelli studio FTA
Client: Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI)
Photography: Andrea Martiradonna