Parma: discover motorsport excellence at Dallara Academy

The Dallara Academy is an educational and exhibition hub built within a bold, modern structure, designed to share and transmit – according to the vision of founder Giampaolo Dallara – the wealth of expertise developed over more than 50 years of activity and to introduce visitors to the history and cars of Dallara.

Inaugurated on September 21, 2018, in Varano de’ Melegari (Parma province), the Academy covers a total surface of about 5,500 m².

The Dallara Academy, envisioned by Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, spans two floors connected by a wide, walkable glass spiral ramp. On the ground floor, there are spaces dedicated to public reception and workshops for schools, while the first floor houses the MUNER university training area and and a 350-seat auditorium used for conferences and events. The unique design of the building is conceived as a "harmonious assembly of mechanical parts," where each component serves a specific function. The core idea is the sharing of the company’s expertise with the outside world: this concept is embodied in the originality of the building itself – defined by a curved wall with a glass cut at the horizon and three cones that contain the building's distribution elements and the university classrooms – all embracing the landscape of the Val Ceno.

The design and construction of the Dallara Academy were entrusted to the Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, winner of the private invitation-only competition held to find the architecture that best translated the client’s vision into reality. The architecture was awarded Best Building Under Construction at the ABB Leaf Awards in September 2017, a competition held for 16 years that recognizes the benchmark projects shaping the future of the industry.

A visit to the Dallara Academy allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world of motorsport, discover the details of the cars that have marked the company’s history, and understand the importance of passion and training in the racing world.

The exhibition ramp hosts cars that have made history for Engineer Dallara and later for Dallara Automobili: from the Miura to the X19, the IndyCars racing in the United States, Le Mans prototypes, and series like Formula 3 and Formula E, up to the latest creation, the “Dallara Stradale.” Visitors will take a walk through the history of innovation and technology, observing high-performance racing and road cars up close while maintaining a connection to the surrounding environment, thanks to the expansive glass wall that follows the curve of the entire ramp. This is the connecting area between the two floors of the Dallara Academy, always open to visitors, whether individuals or groups.