​Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani Architects Planners’ Selected Projects

History of Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani Architects Planners

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Company Culture at Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani Architects Planners

Pagnamenta Torriani Architects Planners LLP (APT) fosters a work culture deeply rooted in collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to sustainability. The firm emphasizes a holistic approach to design, encouraging team members to engage in comprehensive research that considers local culture, history, geography, and climate. This methodology ensures that each project is in meaningful dialogue with its environment and heritage.

As architects, we weave abstraction with reality, imagination with practicality, and intuition with problem solving.

APT also encourages participation in international exhibitions and research initiatives, such as the «Shaping Public Space» project launched at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale. This involvement reflects the firm’s commitment to exploring the nature of public spaces and integrating these insights into their designs.

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Architect-US is proud to work in close contact with APT and to be able to ensure the firm gets to know and work with amazing young architects like Esteban Becerril Pellon, whom we helped get a job and process his Visa through our Job+J1 Visa Program!

Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani Architects Planners‘ Selected Projects

RIYAD NASSAR UNIVERSITY LIBRARY – Beirut, Lebanon

Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani (APT) was tasked with designing and planning the interiors of a new library for the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut. This library, named after former LAU president Dr. Ryad Nassar, needed to be developed within the constraints of a pre-approved plan by a local architectural firm.

To start, the studio delved into Beirut’s local culture and environment, incorporating their findings into a modern library design tailored to the site. They introduced spacious, double-height interiors and used clear Low-E glass on the northern facade to create an inviting, transparent street view for the campus boundary. Glass partitions separated study areas from reading spaces, allowing natural light to flow throughout. Energy-efficient lighting and electronic translucent shades, integrated into the building systems, enhanced sustainability. Local materials and artisans contributed to the custom furniture and finishes.

The Nassar Library features classrooms, computer zones, an expansive open collection, compact storage for the university’s extensive book collection since 1847, as well as lounge spaces, study rooms, and designated reading areas. APT served as the design architects, while SKP took on the role of architect of record.

Photos by APT

NEW ENGLAND BIO LABS – Ipswich, Massachusetts

New England Biolabs (NEB) specializes in creating and providing practical solutions for life science research. The company not only produces innovative products but also conducts and publishes its own research while promoting scientific discovery and education.

Previously, NEB’s laboratory was housed within a nineteenth-century estate that included a group of Victorian mansions. The company sought to build a modern molecular biology facility, incorporating a winter garden, recreational areas, and a 400-seat auditorium. Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani’s (APT) design approach aimed to harmonize the new structure with the surrounding landscape, preserving its natural charm.

The design features a series of branching structures that accommodate research spaces, integrated into the hillside’s natural slope. Courtyards allow natural light—a crucial element for meticulous scientific work—to illuminate the laboratories, while also offering tranquil spaces for researchers to relax.

From the main approach, the building appears seamlessly embedded into the facility’s expansive lawn. From the nearby lake, it reveals itself as a delicate, crystalline form emerging from the hillside. The design concept reimagines the building as a geological and topographical excavation, steering away from conventional architectural styles.

Photos by APT

MARINERS HARBOR BRANCH LIBRARY – Staten Island, NY

The New York Public Library collaborated with the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s Design and Construction Excellence program to commission this new library.

As the neighborhood’s first civic and library building, it serves as a vital community hub, offering spaces for reading, computer access, job searches, after-school programs, and training. It also fulfills the traditional library role of preserving books.

Inspired by the area’s maritime history, the library’s design resembles a cracked oyster shell, with a textured exterior and luminous, pearl-like interiors. Nestled between residential and industrial zones and surrounded by lush greenery, it is accessible from South Avenue and integrates seamlessly into the local context, making it inviting and easy to reach.

The structure’s subtle shifts and curves create a welcoming entrance and flow into its interior. Within, the layout includes two volumes: a larger space for reading areas and a smaller one for support functions, both connected by an open, glazed central corridor. The design prioritizes natural light, with glazed surfaces facing the street and garden and a glass roof that illuminates the central zone while offering views of the trees. The library also features a community room equipped with audiovisual tools and a terrace overlooking the garden, providing a space for public engagement.

Photos by APT

We will be posting more projects by APT in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!