Following an extensive debate on the location of the Regia Scuola Politecnica that lasted throughout the first half of the 20th century, construction of the new Politecnico di Torino building began in 1950. The project was developed by PoliTO Technical Office and coordinated by a committee of professors, notably including Milanese architect Giovanni Muzio (1893-1982), who served as the chair of architectural composition at the Faculty of Architecture, along with Fiat's design office. The outcome is a complex characterized by a 'scholastically functionalist' approach, featuring an axial layout that is rigid in its pathway articulation and hierarchical in its spatial distribution. In the 1980s and 1990s, to address the urgent need for additional space, extensions were made towards Corso Castelfidardo, including the construction of an 'urban window' along the connecting section on Via Peano. This transparent volume enhances vertical connectivity between floors. With the implementation of the 1995 General Regulatory Plan, the expansion of the Politecnico began; the historical headquarters on Corso Duca degli Abruzzi was integrated into a comprehensive urban campus known as the Cittadella Politecnica.
In the year 2000, a significant expansion of the historic seat of the Politecnico di Torino began, eased by its connection to the area formerly occupied by the 19th-century Officine Grandi Riparazioni delle Strade Ferrate (OGR). The main goal was to create an urban campus in the heart of the city. The structure features large courtyards surrounded by impressive buildings and includes spaces for teaching and research, study rooms, and a new canteen. The connection across Corso Castelfidardo is established by two identical buildings known as the 'scavalchi.'
The river villa, with its main façade facing the Po River, was owned by the Savoy family from 1564 until the early 19th century, when it ceased to serve as a royal residence. Initially, the palace became home to the Veterinary School and later served as a military barracks until it was transferred from the Crown to the State Property Office in 1850. In 1859, the Casati law initiated a reorganization of education at all levels, leading to the establishment of the Regia Scuola di Applicazione per gli Ingegneri (Royal School of Application for Engineers) in Turin. This school was inaugurated at the Valentino in the early 1860s. Valentino Castle has since undergone various enlargement and restoration projects, transforming it into a University campus and hub for research and in-depth studies. It now serves as a venue for scientific and technological experimentation, aimed at making the best informed decisions regarding its preservation and conservation, which continues to be active with ongoing support from the University.
Renzo Piano's renovation project in 1985 transformed the Lingotto building from a Fiat car manufacturing plant into what the renowned architect described as "a genuine piece of the city: pulsating, vital, multifaceted, and complex." This Politecnico venue, located on the second floor of the former factory, stands in the area that, in the 1920s, symbolized Turin's drive towards industrial development. Today, it helps the city focus on the challenges of the future.
The decision taken by Politecnico, in collaboration with local authorities and Fiat Auto, to revitalize Fiat Mirafiori - a historical site for Fordism in Turin and its subsequent decline - is highly symbolic. This initiative aims to transform the area into an innovative hub combining production, research, and development. The project plans to establish a district that fosters collaboration between research and development in design, promotes the adoption of new technologies, and cultivates new projects focused on mobility and infrastructure. To support these goals, degree programs in Industrial Design and Automotive Engineering will be moved to this site, alongside the construction of a Design Centre.