Gioia 22: Milan’s Landmark Nearly Zero Energy Building

In the heart of Milan’s Porta Nuova district—a symbol of the city’s innovative spirit—stands Gioia 22, a 121.4-meter-tall office skyscraper.^[3] With its distinctive angular shape and shimmering glass facade, this striking landmark offers more than meets the eye. Smart technology is woven into the fabric of the building’s design, construction, and management. From an integrated photovoltaic system to IoT sensors and an advanced data analytics platform, Gioia 22 is a bold fusion of technology, sustainability, and human-centered design.

A Vision for Sustainable Urban Regeneration

As Italy’s first Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB), Gioia 22 represents a significant step forward in sustainable real estate. The project’s origins trace back to 2016 when Coima SGR acquired an abandoned 80-meter-high office building, originally built in 1961 and formerly the INPS headquarters, which had been vacant for four years.^[3] Coima, a leader in sustainable real estate investment, development, and management, envisioned an autonomous building capable of communicating, adapting, and enhancing the experience for its occupants while implementing ambitious sustainability measures.^[2]

This vision necessitated the demolition of the existing structure and a complete rebuild in collaboration with Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.^[3] The core challenge was to maximize user benefit while minimizing energy consumption.

Siemens: A Technology Partner for Intelligent Building Management

To realize this ambitious vision, Coima partnered with Siemens, leveraging their expertise in intelligent building technologies. Together, they transformed Gioia 22 into a living, intelligent system constantly analyzed, adjusted, and optimized.^[2]

“The choice of Siemens as a supplier and partner was the result of previous collaborations,” said Francesco Moretti, director of development management at Coima. “In the properties we manage, mainly Porta Nuova, Siemens provides 60% of the equipment and systems and has a proven track record of ensuring proper operations, strong management and excellent support. It was a natural progression from the history that already binds us. With Gioia 22 and our latest Porta Nuova project Pirelli35, we are building something extraordinary, something that works flawlessly and something that defines what comes next.”^[2]

Desigo CC: The Building’s “Brain”

Siemens’ intelligent building management platform, Desigo CC, functions as the central nervous system of Gioia 22. It collects and analyzes building data to adapt to the changing needs of its occupants. This includes control of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), lighting, shading, room automation, and fire protection.^[2]

Desigo CC utilizes real-time data from smart sensors and weather stations to automatically adjust lighting and blinds. Upon entry, a room responds dynamically: lighting adjusts to natural daylight, blinds optimize room temperature, and shades prevent glare. When a room is unoccupied, lights switch off, and blinds adjust accordingly.^[2]

Integrated Security and Energy Efficiency

Security is seamlessly integrated through Siemens’ Zerberus PRO fire protection system, centrally monitored by Desigo CC and connected to the cloud for remote access, enhancing monitoring, maintenance, and planning.^[2]

The building’s impressive array of 3,000 photovoltaic modules, covering a significant portion of the facade, generates clean electricity equivalent to the energy needs of 306 households.^{[1, 2]} the HVAC system utilizes groundwater for heating and cooling, optimized by smart sensors and submeters that track thermal energy consumption in real-time.^[2]

“One of the key sustainability measures we took was the installation of inflow and outflow meters to measure the amount of thermal energy from hot or cold water consumed by the aquifer-fed heating and cooling system,” said Francesco Risitano, area manager of the sales team at Siemens Smart Infrastructure in Italy. “This allows our Desigo CC system to monitor supply and return temperatures as well as water levels, helping to achieve the building’s energy savings goals.”^[2]

Desigo CC too integrates a cloud-based energy management and asset management platform based on Siemens’ Building X digital building platform, optimizing energy efficiency and seamlessly integrating complex data sources related to energy supply, consumption, system performance, and sustainability.^[2]

A Landmark for the Future

Gioia 22 stands as a welcoming public gateway to Biblioteca degli Alberi Park, Milan’s third-largest park.^[1] The smart combination of technology and sustainability maximizes comfort for thousands of workers while dramatically reducing environmental impact.^[1] Gioia 22 is not just a building; it’s a testament to the power of innovation and a model for the future of sustainable urban development.

^[1] https://pcparch.com/work/gioia-22

^[2] http://www.coima.com/en/urban-stories/gioia-22-porta-nuova-by-coima-shaping-a-sustainable-future

^[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioia_22_Tower