Market news, 23 July 2024
Almost 15 years after the beginning of its construction, the Porta Nuova district in Milan continues to grow and represent a model for modern urban renewal around the world. The latest building in the area is the new headquarters of COIMA, developer and operator of the Porta Nuova district. The building, with a total area of 3,500 square meters, 5 floors above ground and a basement, has been awarded LEED PLATINUM for its reduced environmental impact.
On the ground floor, the building houses retail shops that overlook Gae Aulenti Square and a large reception area, while the first three floors are all dedicated to offices. On the fourth floor there are board rooms and the COIMA café, open only to employees, which boasts a stunning terrace overlooking the park, the Tree Library and Gae Aulenti Square.
The main objective of this building was to fit harmoniously into the surrounding context: the supporting beams that enclose it resemble the bark of a tree and it was nature that inspired the architect Mario Cucinellain the design of the building. This reference to nature allows the building to become one with the context of the park and square and evokes the principles of sustainability and well-being, thanks in part to the use of environmentally friendly materials.
Stefano Corbella, Sustainability Officer, COIMA says: " Thenew headquarters fleshes out our approach to sustainability and urban renewal, and embodies our values of environmental respect, integrity, and inclusion. The building stands in the middle of an urban space with a large park open to the public, to anyone who wants to live the city together with a multitude of people: children, workers, tourists. This is what makes Porta Nuova a wonderful place, we are lucky to have our headquarters here."
Another highly sustainable choice, which was a common thread throughout the development of Porta Nuova, is the use of groundwater.
Thanks to the presence of a water ring which serves the entire area, this and the other buildings that arise there benefit from great advantages in terms of efficiency and convenience for comfort at home.
The ring, which takes groundwater from 12 pumping wells and returns it to the Martesana canal, is connected to heat pumps at the service of the different buildings. Since the ring already had the capacity for the new COIMA headquarters, the connection to its plant room was particularly easy and advantageous.
The air conditioning system is mixed air-water with ducted fan coil terminal units in the false ceilings and air handling units. The primary fluids are produced in the plant room located in the basement of the building itself, using a multi-purpose water condensed heat pumpERACS2-WQ Climaveneta branded, which simultaneously produces hot and cold water. The fluids produced are then distributed through the secondary circuit pumps, equipped with inverters, to the various fan coils and AHUs.
Francesca Martinoli, Associate ARIATTA Systems Engineering S.p.A says: "Given the structure and the intended use of the building, with the presence of large glazed offices and small interior rooms, a 4-pipe system was proposed. This choice guarantees the possibility to have the correct heating and cooling loads throughout the year and thus ensure maximum comfort and well-being for the occupants of the building with maximum energy savings."
The multi-purpose unit produces hot water at 42°C and cold water at 8°C, even simultaneously, ensuring maximum energy efficiency and minimizing both on-site and CO₂ emissions, in line with the LEED protocol.
