August 17, 2021
Smart Project received an invitation to undertake the design of a university campus in Tirana, Albania, encompassing classrooms, laboratories, and other essential facilities for the University of Technology and Digital Innovation.
This significant project was initiated in late 2015 in collaboration with the Paris Graduate School of Digital Innovation in France (EPITECH). The project site is strategically positioned near the airport and the “Tirana Business Park.”
Our approach commenced with comprehensive research into the specific needs of the students who would utilize these facilities, considering factors such as age and gender. Additionally, we explored the availability of locally sourced building materials and their potential for creating an environment that fosters creativity and innovation. In the final stage of the project, our team meticulously designed buildings that not only adhere to current standards but also prioritize community-building through thoughtful spatial planning.
The campus consists of the IT dedicated faculty and the dormitories. Based upon the functional needs of the campus, a radial ordering of space was used to connect all the functional nodes to the public spaces. The tectonic articulation of the buildings is expressed through the exposed concrete and the volumetric shifting.
Overall the faculty building has a great ecological performance. It features passive systems through natural lighting and ventilation with a reduction of energy by the high levels of insulation and high performance windows. Vertical operable sunshades are placed alongside the window glazing for an optimal sunlight control.
The green roof of the faculty and local use of materials reduce and minimize internal and external pollution. Together with the solar panels, they form a combined solar collection and rainwater collection system. The generation of energy by the solar panels contribute to the overall building efficiency.
The buildings use a low footprint of the building plot. As a result, 72 % of the campus area is free for outdoor activities and landscape development. The structure of the faculty uses a post-tensioned slab system, thus eliminating most of interior beams.