UOH Rancagua Headquarters by Marsino Arquitectura: Adaptive Reuse for Contemporary Public Education

Located in the heart of Rancagua, Chile, the UOH Rancagua Headquarters Building, designed by Marsino Arquitectura, represents a landmark adaptive reuse project that reimagines the former Ex Rancagua Hospital into the foundational campus of the newly established Universidad de O’Higgins. Spanning 16,555 square meters, this architectural transformation not only pays homage to the building’s historical legacy but also embodies the progressive values of modern public education: openness, inclusivity, and flexibility.

From Hospital to University: A Vision for Urban Regeneration

In a South American context where public investment is often constrained and the effects of the climate crisis demand urgent architectural innovation, this project presents a compelling model for sustainable urban redevelopment. Marsino Arquitectura approaches the conversion with sensitivity to the existing structure, which had long served as a public hospital and holds deep significance within the collective memory of the city.

The original six-story structure, characterized by its elongated volume, large horizontal windows, and blue-gray mosaic cladding, was inward-looking and spatially fragmented. Surrounded by perimeter walls and fences, it maintained minimal interaction with its urban surroundings—including Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, the city’s central avenue, located just a few blocks from the main plaza.

A Spatial and Social Transformation

To transform the rigid and segmented hospital architecture into a vibrant, future-oriented educational facility, the design team prioritized flexible programming, public integration, and environmental comfort—all within a limited budget. The conversion strategy revolved around six core architectural interventions:

1. Constructing a large-scale covered atrium to serve as a new urban gathering space.
2. Reviving the original entrance hall to reconnect with the building’s historic fabric.
3. Opening up the interior, allowing greater visual and physical permeability.
4. Hierarchizing the programmatic layout to clearly define academic, administrative, and communal zones.
5. Creating flexible-use spaces to adapt over time with evolving university needs.
6. Implementing phased construction to accommodate financial constraints while ensuring continual progress.

These interventions not only brought daylight deep into the structure but also restructured circulation paths that had once divided the building into stark north and south zones. The result is a more cohesive, thermally comfortable environment with greater transparency and accessibility—essential qualities for a contemporary academic institution.

Embracing Community and Sustainability

The architectural strategy centers around community engagement and urban connectivity. By tearing down barriers between the building and the public realm, the university becomes an open, civic space—symbolic of its role in shaping Chile’s educational future.

Materials were reused where possible, and manufacturers such as Masisa, Dialum, and Hunter Douglas contributed environmentally responsive solutions to the project’s interior and exterior finishes. The design makes effective use of natural light and ventilation, reducing the building's ecological footprint and aligning with broader sustainable architecture goals.

Architecture as a Catalyst for Change

Under the leadership of Jorge Marsino P., María Inés Buzzoni G., and Francisco González C., the UOH Rancagua Headquarters sets a new standard for how disused institutional buildings can be reimagined as resilient, inclusive, and adaptive educational spaces. It highlights the potential of architecture not only to preserve memory but also to propel society forward—especially in times of ecological and social transformation.

All Photographs are works of Jorge Marsino, Pedro Mutis (cortesía de MASISA)