Inauguration of Residenza Dubini, with 326 new student housing spots
Three hundred twenty-six places, 124 apartments equipped with private kitchens, 82 underground parking spots, 50 spots for bikes and motorcycles. These are just a few numbers describing the new Residenza Dubini, the student residence hall that Bocconi officially inaugurated today with President Mario Monti, Luigi Guatri, Vice President of the University and President of the Javotte Bocconi Manca di Villahermosa Institute-Friends of Bocconi Association, the institute that oversaw completion of the building. Also in attendance were Franco Zinna and Alberto Cavalli, representing the City of Milan and the Region of Lombardy.
Completed in 18 months over the course of 2008 and 2009, with a cost of 22 million euros – 6 million of which came from the Ministry of Education, Research and University and 3 million from the Region of Lombardy – the housing building was dedicated to Emanuele Dubini, President of the Javotte Bocconi Institute between 1993 and 2005. The Dubini residence, which began hosting students in January, is the sixth residence hall on the Bocconi campus and brings the total number of housing places available to off-campus students to 1491. It was designed with an AA energy efficiency class by architects Dante Bonuccelli and Morgan Orlandi and provides a study area, a meeting room and a gym, as well as telephone and internet connections in all apartments.
"With this residence hall," said Guatri, "the Bocconi community will once again live close to the original headquarters. I still remember the choice that was made in the 1980s under President Giovanni Spadolini to develop the Bocconi campus around the original headquarters on Via Sarfattti instead of utilizing larger areas that are further outside the city. After 30 years, we can now say that we have overcome this challenge." Logistical infrastructure "is key for competition for a university that would like to attract a growing number of students both from other regions in Italy and abroad," added Monti.
Assigned to speak about Emanuale Dubini was Gavino Manza, Vice President of the Javotte Bocconi Institute, who was a colleague of his at Pirelli: "Dubini was a typical example of what could be called Lombardy capitalism, holding both the roles of manager and entrepreneur. He was a man who was always available to take on responsibility at a national level."