EFA studio di architettura redefines business architecture in Parma with a modular, 60,000-square-meter campus designed to harmonize industrial scale with human-centric research environments
The Concept of the Corporate Citadel
Located at a strategic gateway to Parma, the Chiesi Research and Development Centre is a 90-million-euro investment that transforms the landscape dominated by major infrastructure into a "corporate citadel." Spanning 60,000 square meters, the complex is modeled as an urban-scale organism where open spaces and structural elements balance functional rigor with morphological diversity.
Integrated Architecture and Modular Design
The heart of the complex is a primary building housing 181 laboratories and 254 offices, surrounded by specialized structures for utilities, warehousing, and security. The plan is organized around three distinct wings—two dedicated to laboratories and one to offices—connected by a barycentric atrium. This central hub acts as a vertical and horizontal interconnection point, fostering social interaction, creativity, and team spirit through meeting rooms and communal areas.
The design rejects transitory fashions in favor of orderliness and rationality. The rigid structural framework and modular building envelope are directly linked to the activities within:
Laboratories: Characterized by a massive and solid appearance to reflect their specialized technical nature.
Offices: Designed with a narrower profile and a highly transparent cladding system to maximize natural light for workstations.
Atrium: A light, transparent element that contrasts with the solid volumes of the wings.
Sustainability and Material Research
The project treats the building envelope as a stratified research opportunity, managing technical performance, internal comfort, and corporate image simultaneously. Sustainability is integrated through:
High-Performance Materials: The use of stoneware tiles, thermal glass, and Cor-Ten steel green pools.
Energy Optimization: Solutions include specific building orientation, sun-screen louvers to regulate direct sunlight, and passive systems to reduce consumption.
Landscape Integration: The use of black slate benches, quartzite slabs, and integrated green areas ensures high environmental quality for workers.
This complex represents a systematic integration of architectural design and engineering, aimed at creating a durable and ethical contribution to the urban values of Parma.
Project Fact Sheet
Project Name: Chiesi Research and Development Centre
Location: Parma, Italy
Total Site Area: 60,097.45 m²
Built Area: 28,423.66 m²
Completion Date: August 2011
Architectural, Interior, & Landscape Design: EFA studio di architettura
Engineering: Jacobs Italia SpA
Client: Chiesi Pharmaceuticals
Investment: 90 Million Euros
