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A project centering on the key ingredients of social sustainability, energy efficiency, and comfort
Coinciding with its 20th anniversary, PharmaNutra, a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical company involved in developing nutritional supplements and innovative medical devices for all ages, has moved to new headquarters. Designed by Caponi and Arrighi Architetti Associati on a site covering almost 12,000 m2 to the north of central Pisa, the new headquarters is an innovative facility that integrates into the landscape while using architecture to represent the vision and drive towards the future of both the company and science itself. It’s a strategic investment in ongoing research, while also representing another step towards sustainability by the company. Besides being a contribution to the growth of Pisa, with its green areas, breakout spaces, and gym, the project represents the firm’s commitment to improving the quality of life of its workers.
Turning to the architectural project itself, the architects focused on three key elements: social sustainability, energy efficiency, and comfort. Their design of all the structures focused sharply on accessibility, flexibility, and usability, without overlooking maximizing thermal, acoustic, and lighting comfort to foster the wellbeing of workers and visitors.
The building has two floors. At ground level, there are meeting rooms, a canteen, and the company gym. The floor above, a rectangular prism, sits on two Warren trusses, which make it possible for this section of the building to be connected to the production area via an approximately 22 m long bridge. The trusses also support a nine-meter cantilevered section on the eastern side of the building where the executive offices are located. The open plan offices are also on the second floor, with the two sections linked by a gallery that overlooks the double volume of the entrance.
Well aware of the key role played by window and door openings in workplace comfort, Schüco supplied its aluminum products for this ambitious project. The products include systems for vertical façades, doors, and windows, but also an operable window system that projects out from the roof, which is ideal for skylights in particular.
Among the advantages of these Schüco systems is the possibility of maintaining the formal clarity of the envelope as a whole, while creating a strong “all glass” effect. It also personalizes the architecture by making the façade pleasing to the eye, preserving its functionality, and minimizing consumption. Besides increasing the amount of natural light in the rooms and creating high visual comfort, the systems also have created an ongoing dialogue between the interior and exterior. Examples include large glazed walls created using the Schüco ASE 80.HI lift-and-slide systems measuring 3500x3500 mm – the maximum size offered by the system. Extremely slender door profiles increase the amount of natural light, not only benefiting the psychophysical health of workers but also producing greater energy savings because of the excellent levels of thermal insulation they provide. The dialogue between indoors and out is therefore ongoing.
Other special features include easy access to the terrace and high acoustic comfort, with silent environments available for meetings or other tasks that need peace and quiet.
Location: Pisa, Italy
Completion: 2023
Client: PharmaNutra
Architect: Caponi e Arrighi architetti associati
Suppliers: Schüco Italia
Photography by Pietro Savorelli, courtesy of Schüco Italia
