The Tolentini building complex is located near Piazzale Roma and includes the convent of the church of the same name and several neighbouring areas, such as the entrance, the former Palma house (purchased in 1968 and restored in 1977 by the Iuav technical office), and a pavilion built in 1962 by the Civil Engineering Authority.

The overall project of the church and convent is attributed to Vincenzo Scamozzi, who worked for the Theatine fathers until 1599; the complex was later completed (1602) by the Theatines themselves.

The convent is typologically recognisable from its components: a cloister with a portico supported by pillars, cells on three sides of the first floor, and a refectory located at the edge of the cloister. The second floor features larger spaces and a rare example of a sixteenth-century elevated passage, possibly designed by Scamozzi. The convent was closed under Napoleonic laws in 1810, and from then on it was used for various purposes: a barracks throughout the nineteenth century, a military district after the First World War, and a facility used by Count Volpi during the Fascist period. In 1946 it housed refugees from the Julian-Dalmatian regions. In 1952 it provided accommodation for flood victims from Polesine. In 1958 the State Property Office, owner of the former convent, made the building available to Iuav and began some works (carried out by the Civil Engineering Authority).

Renovation of the entire complex took place between 1960 and 1965, under the design and site supervision of architect Daniele Calabi and engineer Mario Bacci. In 1985 the entrance area, transferred free of charge in 1979, was transformed according to a preliminary design by Carlo Scarpa, with works supervised by architect Sergio Los and structural engineering by Carlo Maschietto.