Project description

The “Giuseppe Billanovich” consultation room houses the oldest books of the Cattolica del Sacro Cuore University, including incunabula, manuscripts, works from the 1500s, and a range of publications from 1601 to 1850. With a total of around 90,000 volumes covering historical, literary, philological, linguistic, critical, and artistic subjects, it represents one of Italy’s most significant examples of “open-shelf” library. Named after Professor Giuseppe Billanovich, a philology lecturer who advocated for its establishment, the prestigious room underwent a major conservation intervention aimed at structural renewal and internal space remodeling, enhancing user experience and comfort. From an engineering perspective, specific strategies were devised for managing internal temperature and humidity, ensuring optimal preservation of the volumes.

Apart from the refurbishment of the consultation area, now equipped with state-of-the-art technological tools and modern furnishings, characterized by more extensive and user-friendly spaces, new areas were created to enhance the value of the stored collections. The “Cinquecentine Room,” an independent section with dedicated systems, was designed to house and preserve 2,000 volumes from the 16th century and 39 incunabula from the 15th century.

CEAS was in charge for architectural and structural design, safety coordination, as well as General and Specialized Construction Supervision. We coordinated the integrated design team throughout the project’s development and execution, planning intricate system implementation and reinforcement interventions for existing structures. Interior design and finishing were handled by Progetto CMR.”Sala Cinquecentine – an independent section with dedicated systems, designed to house and preserve 2,000 volumes from the 16th century and 39 incunabula from the 15th century. With over 90,000 volumes, the room stands as one of Italy’s most significant examples of an ‘open-shelf’ library. Requalification and reorganization of spaces. Coordination of system implementation steps and reinforcement interventions for existing structures