University and nursery school FUB4, in Manresa
An efficient and modular educational facility
The FUB4 building joins the FUB University Campus as a new addition designed to organise and concentrate the services related to the field of education. The project is located in a vacant space between the CU+ University Clinic and the student residence, completing a section of the campus that required architecture capable of accommodating diverse programmes: university education, pedagogical research and early childhood education.
The proposal is resolved with a compact volume with clear geometry, comprising a ground floor and two upper floors, which integrates smoothly into the existing structure. The same building accommodates spaces for intensive university use and a nursery open to the city, creating a public facility that combines different scales and uses under a single architectural logic.
The project is constructed entirely using a system of industrialised prefabricated modules, which defines both the functional organisation and the exterior expression. The modulation organises the façades, interior spaces and circulation routes, resulting in a clear and coherent architecture that meets the requirements of a contemporary educational facility.
Promoter:Fundació Universitària del Bages
Surface:2.158 m²
Budget MEB:2.707.250 €
Ended:22/03/2022
Constructor:Constructora d'Aro
Prefabs:CompactHabit
Installations:JSS Enginyeria
Structures:Gendico
DEO:Ardevol Consultors Associats
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Implantation and connection with the surroundings
The building is situated within the campus, completing a sequence of existing facilities. The volume is aligned with neighbouring buildings and defines a new interior façade, which helps to organise the flow of students and users. On the ground floor, a covered space acts as a transition and meeting area, facilitating access and direct interaction with the outside, and integrating the building into the daily life of the campus.
Modular system and construction strategy
The decision to use a prefabricated modular system has a decisive influence on the project. The modules determine the dimensions of the spaces, the sequence of circulation routes and the composition of the façades, establishing a repetitive logic that allows for rapid and controlled execution. Industrialised construction reduces construction time, minimises waste generation and guarantees a high level of technical quality, making it a suitable solution for intensive public use facilities.
Functional organisation
The interior is organised around a central axis that clearly distributes the different spaces of the programme. Classrooms, educational laboratories, work rooms and support spaces are located on both sides, creating a flexible and easily adaptable floor plan. The ground floor concentrates the uses that are most related to the exterior, including the nursery and practical training spaces, while the upper floors mainly house university teaching activities, allowing for orderly coexistence between complementary programmes.
Materiality and architectural expression
The materiality of the building combines industrialised solutions with more familiar elements. The façades are mainly clad with metal sandwich panels, which provide a uniform and efficient finish, consistent with the modular construction system. On the ground floor, the entrance areas and porch are defined by a ceramic plinth made with Cerámica Cumella tiles, which provides a distinctive material base and reinforces the building's relationship with the human scale. Wooden slat sunshades organise the voids and contribute to solar control, providing a warm counterpoint to an essentially technical architecture.
