Generali Tower forms part of a campus of three towers, designed to reconnect the existing city fabric of Milan to this once abandoned site. Designed with Zaha Hadid Architects, the building is characterised by its flowing, twisting form.

Max Fordham provided M&E Engineering and Architectural Lighting for the Generali Tower project.

The 44-storey tower employs a sophisticated double façade, combined with sun-deflecting louvres and natural ventilation slots, to minimise solar gain and cooling. This approach also helps draw natural daylight into the floorplate and affords great views of the city.

Low-energy, active chilled beams are used for heating and cooling. Hot water is taken from a district heating network, which distributes heat rejected by the city incinerator that would otherwise have been lost into the atmosphere. Chilled water is produced by high efficiency water-to-water chillers that reject heat through giant cooling towers hidden by the roof crown. Fresh air is treated by AHUs equipped with twin wheel type heat recovery, which minimise both the winter and summer energy requirement associated with ventilation.

The lighting throughout has been elegantly integrated to complement the architecture. On the office floors, ribbons of light follow the curved contours of the floorplate, with luminaires concealed within the chilled beams and stepped ceiling profiles. The artificial lighting is coupled with abundant daylight and carefully controlled to ensure appropriate illumination. The double-height foyer features slot lights integrated into the curving and sloping ceilings. The lamps are concealed within the slots and spill indirect light over this striking interior.

The building has achieved LEED Platinum, the highest sustainability rating available.

Max Fordham also worked closely with Studio Daniel Libeskind to contribute to the M&E design and LEED certification for the adjacent Libeskind Tower.