CRIF21 Headquarters, rebuilding for sustainability and community well-being
Politecnica
Office&Business
/
Completed
The decision to demolish a productive building in a densely occupied area to create a new headquarters aims to reduce the consumption of virgin land and rehabilitate neighborhoods near the city center, preventing potential decay. The reuse of abandoned areas was crucial for the Client, who owns other office buildings in the same area. The LEED® Platinum Certification, obtained in May 2024, measured the achievement of these goals. The building's volume is derived from the lot's generating lines and the available surface, with additions and subtractions of volumes creating the unique internal courtyard. Volume adjustments establish appropriate urban hierarchies. The façade composition is harmonized with the internal needs, resulting in a building optimized in height and architectural form.
The building on Via Beverara represents a step in urban transformation, evolving from a consolidated and disused area towards sustainable human growth. Politecnica and CRIF collaborated to make the best use of the site and its natural resources, improving the quality of work life. Before construction, environmental surveys were conducted on the land and materials of the pre-existing building, recovering non-polluted materials. The new construction activities were designed to minimize the impact on the neighborhood with dust and noise reduction systems. 90% of demolition waste was reused. Materials with environmental declarations and recycled content were chosen, supporting the circular economy in construction.
The design of the new building emphasized reducing energy consumption, increasing internal comfort, minimizing construction impacts, and using low-impact materials, considering the well-being of future occupants. Attention to ESG aspects guided every project and construction choice. The result is an innovative building that fully embraces the highest standards of sustainability and energy impact. CRIF21 achieved LEED® Platinum certification and Energy Class A4. This classification was supported by decisions at every stage: from demolitions, with a focus on minimizing neighborhood and environmental impact, to installing photovoltaic panels, transforming the building into a full-electric (no gas) structure.
The trapezoidal building comprises 6 above-ground floors and 2 underground floors, with a total area of approximately 12,000 square meters, surrounded by over 2,000 square meters of greenery. Its volume is generated from the plot's lines, developing through additions and subtractions of volumes to create a unique internal space. From the ground floor entrance hall to the central social areas, the balanced composition and façade design show a harmonious relationship with the sun. CRIF21 features a highly efficient and transparent envelope that reduces energy demand for heating and cooling, maximizing natural light. The structure uses a partially dry construction system for flexibility and modularity. Internal partitions are made of drywall for technical rooms and composite and glass panels for offices and meeting rooms. Workspaces have exposed concrete ceilings with suspended radiant panels; bathrooms have continuous drywall ceilings, and technical rooms have modular rock wool panel ceilings. Politecnica's team focused on a human-centered approach in collaboration with CRIF's IT team, creating collaborative spaces and social areas with user-friendly digital devices. This approach contributed to achieving the LEED® credit for Thermal Comfort. Design measures for internal spaces, geometries, and a high-performance envelope, along with radiant systems and low primary air speeds, generate an optimal indoor microclimate, reducing user discomfort.
The creation of CRIF21 was a unique opportunity to implement a new way of working in the office environment. Shared with CRIF, the idea was to create a building that meets the needs of its inhabitants and positively impacts the urban context. It is both an environmental and urban regeneration, with a positive footprint in both directions. This project materializes our philosophy of integrated design, shaping environments that promote the well-being of people and the surrounding environment.
Bologna
Italy
CRIF S.p.A.
Office & business
11/2023
10500 mq
Confidential
Politecnica Ingegneria ed Architettura Soc. Coop.
PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM PROJECT MANAGER Arch. Paola Gabrielli ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Arch. Stefano Maffei, Arch. Paola Gabrielli WORKS SUPERVISOR Ing. Paolo Muratori STRUCTURAL DESIGN Ing. Luciano Gasparini, Ing. Andrea Lucarelli STRUCTURAL WORKS SUPERVISION Eng. Andrea Lucarelli MECHANICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN / SUPERVISION OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS Ing. Ferdinando Sarno ELECTRICAL AND SPECIAL SYSTEMS DESIGN / SUPERVISION OF ELECTRICAL AND SPECIAL SYSTEMS Ing. Emanuela Becchi, Ing. Davide Messori ENERGETIC ASPECTS DESIGN Ing. Ferdinando Sarno INFRASTRUCTURE AND HYDRAULIC DESIGN Ing. Stefano Ripari GEOTECHNICS Eng. Andrea Lucarelli, Eng. Stefano Tronconi SAFETY COORDINATION IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE Geom. Stefano Caccianiga ACUSTIC DESIGN Ing. Matteo Falcini FIRE PREVENTION P.I. Emanuela Becchi INTERIOR DESIGN Arch. Paola Gabrielli BIM MANAGER Ing. Barbara Frascari BIM COORDINATOR Ing. Marco Magnani BIM SPECIALIST Ing. Marco Bazzani, P.I. Giovanni Guglielmo, Arch. Sara Sannipoli PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT TEAM Ing. Simone Giandomenico, Arch. Ilaria Cerini, Ing. Stefano Politi, ing. Francesco Cavallini, Ing. Massimo Trento, Arch. Gianluca Giordano, Arch. Luca Magnani, Arch. Ilaria Cornia, P.I. Carlo Dipaola, Ing. Stefano Tronconi; Ing. David Peroni, Arch. Sara Giua, Ing. Mattia Longhi, Ing. Alex Nicolini
Colombo Costruzioni S.p.A
Studio Mattioli S.r.l - Studio Silva S.r.l
FURNITURE Vitra, Arper, Herman Miller, Tecno, Pedrali, Poltrona Frau, ICF CHANDELIER Luce5 Srl CUSTOM FURNITURE Intertecnica LIFTS Kone RADIANT CEILINGS Proterimex INTERIOR GLASS WALLS W80 Tecno GLAZED PARAPETS Faraone GLAZING REI Vetreria Busnelli Srl CLADDING Laminam, Bolon INTERNAL DOORS Novoferm, Garofoli TAPS AND FITTINGS Grohe SANITARYWARE Duravit CURTAINS Resstende GREEN ROOF Harpo TURNSTILES Dormakaba AIR HANDLING UNITS Samp, Climaveneta FLOOR FANCOILS Kampmann LIGHTS I Guzzini SMOKE AND FIRE DETECTION Esser EMERGENCY LIGHTING Inotec BIOCLIMATIC PERGOLAS Pratic
Daniele Domenicali Architectural Photography
Curriculum
Politecnica is one of Italy's leading integrated design firms, specializing in Architecture, Engineering, and Urban Planning for over 50 years. With 46 partners and over 250 collaborators, they have completed prestigious projects in 60 countries, driven by the vision: Building for Humans. They create infrastructure that connects communities, safe public buildings for social exchange, innovative healthcare facilities, and educational buildings that foster interaction. Engaged in over 150 projects, they support sustainable development globally. With four offices in Italy and a presence in 10 countries, Politecnica excels in managing multidisciplinary, multicultural projects, becoming a global ambassador of Italian design and engineering competence.
