Ribeirão Preto Medical School

Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

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Rudolf Steiner University

Ribeirão Preto Medical School

Ribeirao Preto, Brazil

Firm

Biselli Katchborian

Type

Educational › University

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft

BUDGET

Undisclosed

Developed for the University of São Paulo, the Biomedical Sciences Research Center of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School arises from the revision of an existing preliminary project that did not meet the demands of scientific research. Based on a new feasibility study, carried out in direct dialogue with the users, the Biselli Katchborian office structured a program aimed at laboratories, study areas, support spaces, and a bioterium with specific operational and control requirements.

The design is based on an interpretation of the campus, situated on the territory of an old farm, and references religious cloisters, reinterpreted as communal courtyards. The building is organized into three main slabs, arranged on platforms that follow the existing topography and reduce earth movement. Between the volumes, the courtyards structure circulation and enhance everyday use, creating spaces for permanence along the pathway.

The central axis, configured as a longitudinal covered space under pilotis, functions as a connecting element for the whole. Circulations and areas for permanence are distributed along this path, linking the different sectors. The spatial organization is based on a modular grid that allows for adaptations over time, while establishing independent circulations to ensure the separation of technical, academic, and operational flows.

The materiality is defined by the use of concrete and aluminum, with emphasis on the metallic brise-soleils that envelop the facades. In addition to providing unity to the ensemble, these elements control the incidence of natural light, responding to the climatic conditions of Ribeirão Preto. This solution contributes to the building's environmental performance and defines its architectural expression.

The technical requirements of the program demanded specific infrastructure solutions. The project incorporates redundancy in the systems of energy, gases, and air conditioning, ensuring continuity of operation in case of failure. To enable maintenance without interruptions, elevated floors and modular ceilings were adopted, allowing continuous access to the installations.

In non-laboratory areas, passive strategies complement the building's performance, such as cross ventilation and direct relationships with the courtyards. The landscaping integrates with these spaces, creating transitions between open, covered, and closed areas, in a system that articulates architecture and environment.

Developed since 2011 and updated over the years, the project has incorporated contributions from different groups of researchers, expanding the initial program. The building operates as a network of circulations that combines autonomy and integration, reflecting the dynamics of scientific production.