Torre Velasca

Torre Velasca is the first skyscraper built in the city of Milan at the end of the 1950s and located near the city center. The tower represents a historical building of the city landscape, with the Ministry of Culture deciding to protect it among the historical assets of the city in 2011. Despite its cultural and historical importance, the potential of Torre Velasca has not been exploited, with the building dividing the local community due to its unusual and peculiar design. In addition, the surrounding public spaces have not been effectively integrated with the urban context and have resulted in being neglected by the local community. The redevelopment project aims to overcome these issues by reopening the public space to the local community and renovating the entire building, targeting environmental sustainability. The redevelopment project started at the beginning of 2020, when the real estate company Hines acquired the entire building from the insurance and financial company Unipol. The acquisition of the site has been conducted through the Hines European Value Fund Milan 1, which retains the ownership of the entire building. The investment fund is managed by the asset management company Prelios SGR. After the acquisition, Hines appointed the architectural studio Asti Architetti to develop the planning and design of the intervention, which collaborated with the architectural studio Fontana Architetti to plan the new floor division and structure. Together with the architectural planning, Hines appointed the engineering firms CEAR, Jacobs and ESA Engineering to develop the intervention related to the renovation and conservation of the building exterior. As the tower is protected as a cultural asset, the intervention plan has been developed in close collaboration with the Authority for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Metropolitan City of Milan to ensure the conservation of the original elements. The construction works started in October 2021, with the construction company ARS Aedificandi appointed as general contractor. The engineering firm CEAS has conducted the works related to the renovation of the building exterior and the lighting system in the public space surrounding the building. The renovation works planned to conclude at the end of 2024. In order to protect the original structure of the tower, the redevelopment project saw the complete restoration and consolidation of the original stone exterior to maintain the iconic facade and recover the original colors. The materials employed will provide stronger protection and resilience against adverse climate conditions. Regarding the inside of the tower, the floors have been changed and renovated from the previous structure, with more energy efficient solutions. The floors from the 2^nd to the 17^th will host the renovated offices, while the bar and the retail and commercial spaces will be located on the ground floor. The last eight floors will be renovated to host the new residential units, and two entire floors will see the construction of new restaurants. Lastly, the renovation will create a gym, swimming pool and spa in the basement floor, open to both tenants and external users. The renovation aims to create a new mixed-use building to host a variety of activities, together with reopening the surrounding public spaces to the local community. These spaces will see the implementation of several green spots and open areas for the local community to enjoy and relax. The redevelopment works target the achievement of the LEED Gold Certification, aiming to significantly reduce the energy consumption of the buildings and the public lighting system. In addition, the area surrounding the building will be pedestrianized and will be provided with a new city bike sharing station, reducing car traffic and parking.