A Tribute to Leonardo Del Vecchio: Bocconi Names Piazza Sraffa 13 Building in His Honor and Celebrates His Legacy
May 22, 2025 – Bocconi University has officially named one of its most symbolic campus buildings, located in Piazza Sraffa 13 and attended daily by over 5,000 students, after Leonardo Del Vecchio. The dedication ceremony took place on what would have been the 90th birthday of the visionary entrepreneur and was attended by the Del Vecchio family, members of the academic and business communities, and prominent figures in the world of philanthropy.
The event also celebrated the impact of the Leonardo Del Vecchio Students Award Fund, made possible thanks to a major donation by the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation, led by President Nicoletta Zampillo Del Vecchio. The €20 million fund will provide permanent support each year to talented students with limited financial means, through tuition waivers and scholarships. It marks a significant step toward a more inclusive and equitable university that supports merit and potential.
The event — which included a message from the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella — highlighted how Leonardo Del Vecchio’s life and values continue to inspire new generations. “His personal and professional story reflects core Bocconi values: commitment, merit, inclusion, and belief in the potential of young people,” said Bocconi Rector Francesco Billari. “It is in this spirit that we have chosen to name the Piazza Sraffa 13 building in his honor, with a plaque that not only celebrates his legacy, but also serves as an invitation to future generations to believe in their own abilities and rise above their circumstances.”
Opening the ceremony, Nicoletta Zampillo Del Vecchio remarked: “Once again, we feel the need to thank Leonardo — who would have turned 90 today — for creating the conditions that led to the establishment of the Leonardo Del Vecchio Foundation, and for passing on the awareness that each of us has a responsibility to create a positive impact by giving back. With the Foundation, we are continuing to follow this path, guided by the values that inspired all of Leonardo’s work: education, healthcare, social inclusion, and research — always with the goal of fostering systemic, lasting change.”
The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Family Foundations, the Role of Philanthropy, and the Need for Public-Private Collaboration,” with speakers including Antonella Carù (Bocconi Pro-Rector for Development and Alumni Relations), Ferruccio de Bortoli, Silvio Garattini, and Andrea Colli, moderated by journalist Maria Silvia Sacchi. Students who have already benefited from the fund also shared their personal stories, testifying to the transformative power of such support.
The tribute day concluded with the opening of the photo exhibition “Sguardi che cambiano il mondo. Storia di Leonardo Del Vecchio” (“Looks that Change the World. The Story of Leonardo Del Vecchio”), curated by Maria Vittoria Baravelli and open to the public on campus until October 2025.
With this tribute, Bocconi University reaffirms its commitment to being a driver of social mobility, reminding all who walk through the doors of the newly named building of Leonardo Del Vecchio’s powerful message — engraved on the commemorative plaque:
“I was certain that everything would depend on me and my work.”
A message that will continue to inspire generations of students.