Citywave
#iconic CityLife is one of the largest redevelopment projects in Europe, covering an area of 366,000 square metres. Located in a prestigious area of Milan, only a short distance from the Duomo, CityLife currently consists of three iconic towers surrounded by a green public realm. While an international design competition asked for a new tower on the site, BIG took the opportunity to explore a different typology for the city. Currently under construction, BIG’s design envisions two individual buildings connected by a 140-metre-long hanging roof – unified by a series of performative vertical elements – that forms a generous shaded public realm as the entrance to CityLife: The Portico, also known as City Wave. Rather than competing with the existing context, BIG’s design completes it. Twin buildings were often used in Milan in the 20th century to celebrate the axis as an urban demarcation of entryways. Anchoring both sides of the street, the twin buildings create a sense of grandeur to the axis and are commonly found throughout history, from the gates of the Spanish city walls in the 1500s to post-war icons such as the twin buildings of via Turati. City Wave is a 73,000-square-metre development with workspace and public amenities, designed on the last two remaining plots of the CityLife masterplan in Milan. The masterplan, designed by Studio Libeskind in conjunction with Zaha Hadid Architects and Arata Isozaki & Associates, consists of three iconic towers surrounded by a green public realm and residential neighbourhoods. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:The Wave SCARL Year:2023-ongoing Surface in sqm:73.000
Illva di Saronno
#ILLVASustainabilityPath As part of ILLVA Saronno’s sustainability initiatives, Rethink Energy Srl provided the integrated design of mechanical and electrical systems for the retrofit of the headquarters office building in Saronno. The project involved replacing the existing thermal system with a high-efficiency heat pump featuring heat recovery, aiming for decarbonization and a reduction in CO₂ emissions. The new system was configured with a 4-pipe network and fan coil units, allowing simultaneous heating and cooling management for each zone, enhancing indoor comfort and energy efficiency. This solution aligns with the ILLVA Sustainability Path program, which focuses on reducing environmental impact and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. Location:Saronno Type:Officies Client:Illva di SaronnoYear:2023-2024 Surface in sqm:3.500
TORRE GIOIA 22
#zeroenergy Torre Gioia 22 is a 121m tall skyscraper, part of the Porta Nuova project, and UBIBanca’s new headquarters in Milan.Designed by architect Gregg Jones (Pelli Clarke Pelli Atchitects’ Principal), TorreGioia 22 represents a new standard in executive office buildings, in whichtechnology and environmental sustainability blend into a stunning and futuristic“glass shard” 26-storey construction.Entirely coated with triple-glazed glass panels integrating 225.000 photovoltaicmodules (for a total surface of around 6.000 sqm), the building can bring down itsenergy needs by 75% compared to Milan's latest office towers. It is the first buildingin Italy to comply with Nearly Zero Energy Consumption Building standards. For this project, Rethink Energy took care of the works direction for the powerinstallation while ensuring that volume bonuses were correctly granted through theindependent modelling of the 22-storey tall building. In collaboration with StudioPlanning, Rethink Energy also employed the most advanced free cooling strategiesin order to significantly reduce energy consumption and reach new levels ofefficiency.The building was granted two sustainability certifications: LEED, on the constructionside, and WELL, on the well being of occupants. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:Planning-Coima Year:2019-2022 Surface in sqm:30.000
350 EUSTON ROAD
#bestpractices 350 Euston Road is an office building, part of Regent’s Place, located in the heart ofLondon.Rethink Energy was in charge of the renovation of the cooling/heating system,using heat recovery heat-pump technology and high efficiency chillers controlled byan advanced management system.This installation is the first of such dimensions to be implanted in London. It led toenergy/economic savings in excess of 70%, as certified by the client’s (BritishLand/Broadgate Estate) consumption control system.The case study was published by CIBSE (the Chartered Institution of BuildingServices Engineers) and included in the institution’s prestigious CIBSE Awardsshortlist for “best commercial project”.For this project, Rethink Energy designed the mechanical, electrical and specialinstallations and was responsible for the works direction. Place:London Type:Offices Client:British Land Year:2016 Surface in sqm:12.000
VP22
#workingwellness The new VP 22 office complex, located at n.22 Via Vittor Pisani in Milan’s CentralStation district, is a building designed to make the work experience light and easy,with people’s well-being at the heart of its architectural concept.The building is characterised by an internal forest, “the hidden woods”, a small,green lung visible from all work stations and where to relax and keep in touch withnature. The forest goes on up to the rooftop terrace of the building.Other features make this building stand out in Milan’s skyline, such as the addedvolume above the great terrace on the 8th floor, completely transparent and with360° views of the city, and the ceramic facade with an invisible finishing based ontitanium dioxide water that can purify the air from the majority of pollutants.Rethink Energy provided technical support to the General Constructor and compiledthe technical documentation in compliance with Italy’s 10/91 regulation, as well aswriting up the power report of the project containing all the calculations and thetesting relating to the building’s installations in order to ascertain its compliance withall regulations for the reduction of buildings’, and installations thereof, energyconsumption. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:Colombo Costruzioni Year:2021-ongoing Surface in sqm:12.000
SYMBIOSIS – BUILDING D
#communitydistrict The Symbiosis urban regeneration project transformed an industrial space, once astrategic area for Milan’s economic development, in a new mixed-use urban districtaiming at addressing contemporary sustainability issues in an innovative way.Designed by international architecture and design Studio Antonio Citterio PatriciaViel (ACPV), Symbiosis follows the guidelines of European research and innovationprogramme Horizon 2020. Extending over an area of 130.000 sqm South of PortaRomana, it is home to many important multinational companies, but not only. Thedistrict also hosts showrooms, museums, universities and research centres such asFondazione Prada and Talent Garden.Building D, the new office block, serves as an urban laboratory to investigatetomorrow’s new work environments. Rethink Energy designed its cooling/heatingand power system, using groundwater heat-pumps, and photovoltaic and vegetableoil co-generation technologies integrated in a trigeneration system. This mix ofpower solutions ensured very high levels of efficiency and the use of renewablesources, thus securing the volume bonuses contemplated in Italy’s Dlgs 28/2011regulation.For the particular attention paid to wellbeing (the 75 sqm green area atop thebuilding will allow people to take healthy outdoor breaks and even exercise),Building D gained bronze score Core WELL certification. It also obtained Platinumscore Core & Shell LEED certification for environmental sustainability. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:Convivio Year:2020-2022 Surface in sqm:18.000
VICTOR
#urbanbusiness Deutsche Bank acquired the building situated at via Vittor Pisani 19 for 32 million euros through Dws group Gmbh. An entire office block in the new business district of Porta Nuova, on the main axis connecting downtown Milan to Central Station. Today this area is home to many national and multination companies and represents an ideal context for business. For the renovation and the conservative rehabilitation of the building, Rethink Energy developed the mechanical systems through heat pumps using ground water, supported by air-cooled generators and a chilled beams system. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:Eletecno Year:2021-ongoing Surface in sqm:8.000
SPARK ONE/TWO
#sparkonetwo Commissioning and final check of mechanical, hydraulic and fire systems on behalf of final tenant SAIPEM. Rethink Energy was in charge of the commissioning and testing of systems based on heat pump technology. Place:Milan Type:Offices Client:Saipem Year:2022-2023 Surface in sqm:22.000