The Anna Frank school in Cremona has been inaugurated: seismic retrofitting, funded by the National Plan for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, has been completed.
Cremona, PNRR works completed: the Anna Frank school reopens after seismic retrofitting.
On the morning of Monday, January 19th, the "Anna Frank" middle school on Via Francesco Novati in Cremona was inaugurated, following a major and complex seismic retrofit project. This highly symbolic moment marked the return to the city of a completely renovated, safer, and more modern school building, ready to welcome students, families, and staff in environments compliant with regulatory standards and contemporary educational needs.
The ribbon cutting and the authorities present
The mayor took part in the inaugural ceremony Andrew Virgil, Councilor for Education and School Buildings Roberta Mozzi, Councilor for Public Works Paolo Carletti, and Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Institute 4 Vania Marinoni. Also present were the technical representatives who oversaw the project and its implementation, including Giovanni Donadio, Director of the Programming, Design, Execution, and Maintenance Department, Engineer Gian Luigi Rossi as Project Manager, Engineer Paolo Ciuchi as Safety Coordinator during the Construction Phase, and Engineer Mario Falloni, Static and Technical-Administrative Inspector. For the contractor, Paolo Beltrami Construction SpA, the top management and site managers were present, together with numerous students from the school, the real protagonists of the day.
The history and structure of the school building
The school building, designed between 1970 and 1974 and completed in 1978, is located in an area characterized by a slope of approximately three meters below street level. The structure is composed of eight buildings arranged in a unique double cross shape: the smaller one, facing Via Novati, houses the entrance and administrative functions, while the larger cross, located at the rear, houses classrooms and teaching activities. In 2016, the building's attic space was mapped and a safety net was installed, the first step toward a broader safety upgrade.
A structural intervention for seismic safety
The recently completed project involved the seismic retrofitting of the entire complex, which was necessary because the original structure was unable to absorb the stresses required by current regulations in the event of an earthquake. The work included structural reinforcement through the insertion of metal bracing, encircling the pillars with special concrete, and strengthening beams and columns using carbon fiber composite materials and metal plates. Numerous finishing and complementary works were also carried out, both inside and outside the building, which contributed to the overall renovation of the school's appearance and functionality.
PNRR financing and the Municipality's investment
The work was carried out thanks to the funds of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which allowed the Municipality of Cremona to carry out a project with a total value of €3.739.528,35. Of this, over €2,45 million came from ministerial funds, while the remaining €1,28 million was financed directly by the municipal administration, confirming a concrete and ongoing commitment to school construction.
A broader plan to redevelop the city's schools
The renovation of the Anna Frank school is part of a broader program of interventions on school buildings made possible by PNRR funding obtained by the Municipality. In addition to this school, the Virgilio middle school on Via Trebbia and the primary school in the Boschetto neighborhood are also undergoing renovations. In recent months, the gymnasium at the Trento e Trieste primary school has been fully usable again, while work continues on the new Early Childhood Center on Via dei Classici, in the Po neighborhood. In parallel, the Municipality has conducted seismic vulnerability assessments on numerous other city school buildings, strengthening the safety of their educational assets.
The words of Mayor Andrea Virgilio
During the inauguration, Mayor Andrea Virgilio emphasized the strategic importance of these projects, noting that the "Anna Frank" school marks the third inauguration since the beginning of his term in office. This achievement, he explained, is not merely a numerical achievement, but rather a testament to a clear political choice to invest in the safety, modernity, and quality of educational spaces. The mayor thanked students, families, and teachers for their patience during a long and complex construction site, as well as all the technicians, councilors, and the contractor for the teamwork that made the project possible.
The commitment to a modern and student-friendly school
Councilor Roberta Mozzi also emphasized the importance of ensuring safe, attractive, and functional school environments, emphasizing that public schools require constant attention because they are the places where girls and boys spend much of their daily lives. Councilor Paolo Carletti echoed these words, highlighting the excellent collaboration between the Municipality and school administration, which minimized disruption, and the added value represented by the renovation of the systems and the improvement of the façades, interventions that enhance not only the school, but the entire neighborhood.
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