Meet our Consortium
University of Florence
The Architecture Department (DIdA) of the University of Florence (UNIFI) coordinates and manages the academic programmes offered in architecture, landscape management, urban design, and design. Its great experience was developed carrying out several national and international research activities in the field of bio-ecological architecture, sustainable and environmental design, advanced technologies for energy saving into the design process. The role of DIdA as RE-ACT Schools lead partner is to support partnerships by implementing and testing an innovative methodology to designing and managing the schoolyard renovation, creating a climate-neutral, resilient, healthy and active environment and facilitating the exchange of experience, the transfer of good practices and learning among the consortium.
Province of Lucca
The Province of Lucca is located in the Tuscany region, covering a territory (NUTS III) with an area of 1,773 square km and more than 387,000 inhabitants, bringing together 33 municipalities. Bordering the Ligurian sea and the Appennine mountains, it has a wide urban and sub-urban area stretching from Lucca’s plein to the sea cost. The climate is Mediterranean: mild winter, hot summer. As local intermediate authority, the Province has competence on high school building maintenance and management. Through the RE-ACT Schools project, the Province of Lucca plans to work in synergy with existing renovation and energy efficiency works on school buildings focusing on the valorisation of courtyards, carrying out its pilot project on the high school ‘IIS Galilei – Artiglio’ located in the city of Viareggio. A the same time it will work on strengthening the capacities of local administrators, professionals and decision-makers, to manage risks of climate change such as heat-island effects and promote effective adaptation solutions, new approaches and interventions on school outdoor spaces.
Var Department
The Var County Council drives local action through its Europe department, securing EU funds for territorial projects. Its Department for Natural, Forest, and Agricultural Areas leads the greening of middle school courtyards, transforming paved spaces into green oases. These joint efforts foster biodiversity, student well-being, and climate adaptation, showcasing the Var County commitment to a more sustainable territory.
Mataró Municipality
The Municipality of Mataró has launched an ambitious urban renaturalisation process through its Re-Natura project, a flagship initiative of the Local Urban Agenda 2030. Building on this experience, particularly in the transformation of schoolyards, the city joins RE-ACT Schools through its Municipal Manager’s Office, Education Department, Municipal Facilities Services, and the Green Infrastructure Service. Mataró will lead a pilot action at Rocafonda kindergarten and carry out a citywide climate audit.
Split Municipality
Split is the second largest city in Croatia, with over 160 thousand inhabitants, and is a centre of administrative, economic and transportation activities, as well as a hub of cultural, sports and academic activities with rich historical heritage. The Municipality of Split holds a great potential to re-imagining tourism in Croatia, with the city administration being involved in implementation of smart city solutions.
The Cyprus Institute
The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a world-class, non-profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation. It is a regional Center of Excellence, addressing issues of regional interest but of global significance, with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary research and international collaborations. The Sustainable Built Environment Group of the CyI promotes a human-centric vision of the built environment by developing approaches and solutions supporting the transition towards a resilient and sustainable built environment optimized for thriving communities. We adopt a holistic and human-centric research approach addressing energy efficiency, zero-energy buildings and neighbourhoods, RES integration in the built environment, and sustainable and resilient cities fostering climate change mitigation and adaptation. Our research interest ranges from the indoor environmental quality (thermal comfort, visual comfort, and indoor air quality), occupant behaviour, building physics, energy conservation, model validation and calibration, to outdoor comfort and climate change impact assessment
School Board of Nicosia
The School Board of Nicosia has experience in supporting schools in terms of technical support, building upgrades and building conversions. The School Board is responsible for the renovation οf all schools at all levels, from nurseries to high schools of the Nicosia District and therefore has the expertise to participate the project and support at all levels. The most recent projects carried out are the construction of a multi-purpose hall at the in a primary School of Palouriotissa, the renovation of the Pangyprio Gymnasium and three major projects, which are still in process, the construction of a multi-purpose hall at the Agios Antonios Primary School and at the Pangyprio Gymnasium and the construction of a new kindergarden at ELENEION School. The past activities of the School Board of Nicosia are directly related to the project of RE-ACT schools.
Varna Economic Development Agency (VEDA)
VEDA is a not-for-profit, non-governmental association, registered to operate in public benefit. Located on the territory of Varna District in Bulgaria, the Agency was established in 1997 under the joint program Local Government Initiative of Varna Municipality and USAID, to assist the advancement of regional economic development. VEDA aims to provide leadership for the establishment of conditions for sustainable social and economic development of the region. It is a member of the Regional Council for the Development of North-East Planning Region of Bulgaria and cooperates with policy and decision makers for the strategic development of the region. VEDA has extensive experience in realization of over 80 multinational projects, among them the recent projects TOURISMO and RE-ACT Schools (Interreg EURO-MED), Danube Wood(s) Route (Interreg Danube), WINBLUE (EMFAF), and others. Our area of expertise includes but is not limited to research, delivery of training and advisory services, capacity building and support for local stakeholders in the area of tourism, innovation and eco-innovation, agriculture and blue economy sectors.
