Public Space as a Nexus / Meeting Place Between University and City. A Politecnico and Milanese Narrative

Universities are increasingly called upon to engage with rapid processes of economic and societal renewal, necessitating the adoption of initiatives aimed at scientific and cultural re-foundation. This includes new educational models, novel challenges in research, and fresh relationships among research, innovation, business, and, ultimately, society itself. One significant need expressed by users of the Politecnico is the creation of new common spaces that foster both physical and social connections, extending beyond the realms of research and teaching. Alongside the recognition that educational activities require adjustments in spaces, educational models, and learning approaches, there is a growing acknowledgment that research demands facilities and services capable of supporting increasingly complex technological and production activities. Spaces dedicated to daily living, hospitality, and communal life are essential for fostering conviviality, inclusion, and interaction among diverse individuals – students, faculty, technicians, professionals, external educators, and citizens – each of whom calls for reconsideration and new visions in today’s context. The university and its campuses, therefore, represent an evolving and transformative system with young people from all over the globe as the main protagonists. Within university spaces, they find the opportunity to access the world of work and life. Economically and culturally investing in their spaces means, for the Politecnico di Milano, solidifying the foundations laid in 1863 by the pioneers of our community to educate engineers, architects, and now also designers, but above all individuals – intellectuals and professionals – who have made indelible contributions to the progress, innovation, and livability of our environment over the decades.