Unionezero, a development project for a large industrial site near Milan, unveiled

Another stone is about to be placed in the complex urban regeneration programme of the former Falck industrial area in Sesto San Giovanni, one of the most extensive and troubled in Europe (due to ownership changes, procedural and political jams). The first step in this titanic redevelopment operation was the new railway bridge station designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Ottavio Di Blasi & Partners in collaboration with SCE Project, characterised by a panoramic glass walkway with bars, shops and services which, bypassing the tracks, stitches together two portions of the city (Sesto and the former Falck area) previously separated by the railway. In addition to this, there are two more ongoing projects: to the north of the station, the City of Health and Research (designed by MCA Architects) and to the south Unionezero, the new urban pole covering an area of approximately 250,000 square metres that will substantially increase the offer of living spaces, flexible workspaces, services and green areas for the entire Milan metropolitan area.

The global real estate investment, development and management company Hines, as co-investor and development manager, recently announced the start of the first construction site in Unionezero financed with private capital for an investment of € 220 million, and relating to three of the six planned buildings: over 130. 000 sqm including a 48,000 sqm office complex for new Intesa Sanpaolo offices and a 45,000 sqm rental office building (both designed by Acpv-Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel), and a 39,000 sqm student residence for 700 beds (designed by Park Associati). The new buildings aim to obtain the highest environmental certifications in order to reduce energy requirements by 30% with respect to traditional systems thanks to the use of renewable sources and innovative materials, and will be immersed in green public spaces in which pedestrian and bicycle mobility will be particularly encouraged. A new citadel of life-study-work balancing and eco-sustainability on the outskirts of Milan.