The new Turin Campus of the ESCP Business School has officially opened to the public, welcoming students of 76 different nationalities, representing all continents, and professors from all over the world and thus strengthening the link between the business school and the Piedmontese capital, which is increasingly dynamic and multicultural.
Located in the heart of the city, the campus occupies a historic building owned by BNL BNP Paribas, which oversaw its renovation on behalf of ESCP. The campus covers an area of over 8,000 square meters: the building, built in 1877 and damaged during the bombings of 1942 and then transformed by BNL in 1983, has been redeveloped in collaboration with TRA – Toussaint Robiglio Architetti, G*AA, Subhash Mukerjee Studio, Conrotto Progetti, Fionda and Fred s.r.l, preserving the historical identity of the building by integrating it with contemporary extensions. The project involves the integration of solar panels, the use of recycled materials and an innovative energy management system to reduce environmental impact and ensure efficiency. This blend of ancient and modern embodies the values of ESCP, the world’s first business school founded in 1819: to respond to contemporary educational needs without losing sight of its historical heritage.
Conceived as a space where tradition meets technological innovation, in particular artificial intelligence, which will be an integral part of teaching and research activities, in the definition of new ways of learning and interaction between the school and those who attend it, while always keeping human intelligence at the center of the educational process. This approach emphasizes that while technological innovations are crucial, it is the intellectual capacities and human qualities of empathy, creativity, and critical thinking that enable true growth. The campus is therefore a dynamic laboratory in which the integration of technology and humanity is at the heart of building the future of education.
The interaction between students, teachers and guests will be promoted through common areas such as the library, the MeetUp rooms, the future cafeteria, the dialogue spaces and the Agora, a covered and glazed square accessible even to those who do not attend the campus developed in collaboration with the City of Turin. The semicircular classrooms, flexible and reconfigurable, will stimulate collaborative learning and an evolution of traditional teaching. Also central is the role of Blue Factory, the business incubator of ESCP Business School, which fosters interaction with the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting the creation and development of new initiatives and startups , contributing to a positive impact on the community.
With this project, the ESCP continues to set new standards in management education, consolidating Turin as an international crossroads of knowledge and development, thanks to partnerships with international players and local realities. This campus is not only a step forward for the school, but also an investment in the future of the city and generations to come.
Francesco Profumo, President of the Turin campus of ESCP Business School, commented: “Our goal is to prepare our students to become global citizens, able to navigate a complex and constantly evolving world thanks to a unique educational path, interaction with local and international companies and cutting-edge research projects in an extraordinary cultural and professional environment. At ESCP, internationality is a reality experienced every day: the compulsory multicampus course for students represents a European avant-garde, ahead of the Alliances promoted by the European Commission“.
Francesco Rattalino, Executive Vice-President and Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Experience at ESCP Business School Torino, added: “The learning environment is an active participant, architecture becomes a strategic tool to promote innovation, collaboration and student well-being. The introduction of cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence improves learning and makes teaching interactive and dynamic, stimulating creativity and entrepreneurship. The partnership between ESCP Business School and OpenAI makes advanced tools such as ChatGPT Edu available to students and faculty , innovating teaching, research, and campus operational efficiency.”
Alberta Di Giuli, Director of the ESCP campus in Turin, concluded: “The new campus is a concrete example of how architecture can integrate and dialogue with the territory, becoming a point of reference for local development. This space is not only a place of learning, but a catalyst for research, innovation and growth for the entire local and national community that actively contributes to the progress of the economic and social fabric of Turin and Piedmont. Our local and international partnerships, creating a virtuous exchange between the academic world and the business world, enrich opportunities for our students and generate value for the territory. We want to further strengthen these connections, promoting a positive and lasting impact that can consolidate the role of the campus as a reference hub for the sustainable growth of the region“.
(Source: ESCP Turin Campus press release)
