Redevelopment
of Torri Garibaldi Complex

Sustainable architecture

The two nearly identical 100-metre-high buildings, designed by architects Laura Lazzari and Giancarlo Perotta, partly rest on a parking slab and partly on the structures and tunnels of Garibaldi railway station. They were originally a symbol – sometimes criticized – of postmodern Milanese architecture.
The redevelopment, designed by architect Massimo Roj of Progetto CMR, had the dual objective of renewing their image and transforming them into sustainable architecture that was among Italy’s most advanced at the time. The exteriors were completely redesigned and equipped with continuous vertical bands of photovoltaic panels, natural ventilation systems, interactive façades and bioclimatic greenhouses on every floor, resulting in a zero-emission complex.

A skin with an original design

The design of the architectural “skin” of the main elevations is particularly refined: the “faceted” elements with four different angles of inclination reflect the sunlight like diamonds. Actually this is a technologically advanced cladding equipped with interactive ventilation cells that help control internal climate comfort. Today the complex stands alongside the UniCredit Towers and the Porta Nuova urban regeneration area – forming the “western gateway” to the district – symbolizing Milan’s openness to the future while remaining rooted in Milanese tradition in its choice of materials (ceramic, stone and glass) and the original treatment of the façades.

Project implementation

Studio A. Ferraresi – AF Engineering became involved after works on the east tower had already been completed. Andrea Ferraresi provided support to the client for validating the contractor’s design and acted as construction manager/clerk of works for the west tower (Tower A), the demolition and reconstruction of the buildings between the skyscrapers, and the structural strengthening at the base of the complex where it intersects with the railway infrastructures. This involved completely exposing the tower’s steel structure and demolishing the connecting bodies, which were replaced by a five-storey glazed volume (Building C).

Optimizing construction times

The main challenges were driven by the large scale of the intervention and the need to coordinate very different types of work and requirements. On one hand was the need to reinstall the façades very quickly across many floors, with the disadvantage of working above an active railway line and adjacent to an already occupied office tower – as well as having to lift personnel and materials to significant heights – but with the advantage of building on experience from the completed twin tower and performing repetitive, standardized operations that greatly optimized execution times.
On the other hand was the unusual context of the intervention, a skyscraper directly above a heavily trafficked railway line, which compelled structural strengthening works to be carried out at night.