The LEED®-certified office building covers more than 14,000 square meters on Via Bernina in Milan, and is located in an area that is easily accessible and served by major public transportation. The building was designed according to the highest quality standards of the LEED® protocol and received LEED® v2009 Gold certification. The structure of the building underwent upgrading, in its opaque and glazed components; this allowed it to achieve high performance from a thermo-hygrometric point of view. The interior space is newly built and aims at efficiency and flexibility. In terms of the choice of architectural components, the use of regional materials characterized by low VOC content and high recycled content was maximized. The LEED®-certified office building also features high-efficiency HVAC systems (thanks in part to the heat recovery system), and is equipped with an ambient comfort control system in each regularly occupied zone.
1. Air handling units equipped with high-efficiency heat recovery
2. Outdoor air flow rates according to ASHARE 62.1.2007
3. Equipment with reduced potable water flow rates
4. Use of materials with high recycled content and regional sourcing
5. Use of low VOC content materials
6. Efficient management of stormwater
7. Materials with high SRI
8. Refrigerants with low LCGWP
9. Solar shading
10. Energy-efficient exterior envelope
Rating system: LEED® Core and Shell 2009
Certification level: 61/110 points, LEED® Gold
Below, for each category, the percentage contribution to the total certification score. Also to the side, the score achieved against the total score that can be acquired for each category.
Preliminary assessment of the overall sustainability of the project: selection of the best LEED® certification rating and evaluation of the resulting attainable certification level.
Project team management activities through:
– Guidance on selection of materials and equipment in accordance with LEED® requirements.
– Approval of project documentation in accordance with LEED® requirements.
– Management of the project on LEED®online
Commissioning is a prerequisite for LEED®, the main purpose of which is to ensure that buildings and facilities are designed, constructed, and delivered to clients according to clear and well-defined criteria. The benefits of the process, if implemented on time, are:
– increases in occupant productivity
– containment of construction costs
– shorter plant commissioning times
Energy model activity allows for the comparison of two models of the same building, baseline and proposed, the former built according to Ashrae 90.1 Appendix G and the latter in accordance with the project. The result is a snapshot of the building’s consumption. The comparison between the two models allow to calculate a percentage savings in energy cost.
| Architectural Design: | RED s.c.r.l. Resources Engineering Design |
| Electrical and special systems design: | RED s.c.r.l. Resources Engineering Design |
| Mechanical Systems Project: | RED s.c.r.l. Resources Engineering Design |
| Engineering Design Mechanical Systems Project: |
GreeningLAB – division of Planex s.r.l. Engineering companies |
| Energy Modeling: | GreeningLAB – division of Planex s.r.l. Engineering companies |
| General Contractor Strip out | General Smontaggi s.p.a. |
| General Contractor Construction phase | CPC Compagnia per Costruire S.p.A. |
| Construction Management: | RED s.c.r.l. Resources Engineering Design |
| Commissioning authority: | CommissionLab – division of Planex s.r.l. Engineering companies |
Via Bernina 12, 20158 Milano (MI)
Client: BNP Paribas
Intended Use: Offices
Period of construction: 2011 – 2012
Area: 14.700 m
U.S. Green Building Council* website:
* U.S. entity involved in the development of the LEED® certification protocol.
