Siemens and Italian real-estate management company Coima have turned a heritage building in Milan into a smart, energy-efficient landmark.

The Pirelli 35 commercial building is delivering energy savings of 60% and cutting 2000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually

The goal was to transform the 45,000-square-metre, 11-storey asset into a smart and energy efficient property. The 65-year-old building is set to improve environmental performance for its 40 commercial tenants by reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Siemens’ Desigo CC integrated building management system is one of the key technologies enabling the achievement of these targets. This offers a high level of cyber-security protection and orchestrates all building operations in a single, centrally monitored system. Being able to oversee all systems – such as HVAC, lighting, room automation, fire safety and electrical distribution – it helps facility managers enhance operational efficiency, reliability and system longevity, supporting business continuity.

Meanwhile, the building has sensors simultaneously monitoring seven environmental parameters, including air quality, energy consumption and CO₂ levels. This not only results in optimised energy efficiency, but also in increased occupant well-being, productivity and safety. The building’s electrical infrastructure includes Simosec medium-voltage switchgear, 59 Alpha low-voltage switchboards with Sentron protection devices, and 35 control panels, ensuring optimal system control throughout the building.

“In major cities, many buildings could benefit from digitalisation, transforming into smarter and more energy efficient assets,” said Susanne Seitz, CEO for buildings at Siemens (www.siemens.com). “Since 2015, we have partnered with Coima to implement Siemens’ building technology and services across more than 30 Coima-owned buildings in Milan. Pirelli 35 is a prime example of this, serving as a blueprint for sustainable urban regeneration. It showcases how buildings can be modernised with building and electrification technology to meet Europe’s 2030 net zero goals while maintaining their architectural heritage.”

Stefano Corbella, sustainability officer at Coima (coima.com), added: “Thanks to our partnership with Siemens and the implementation of cutting-edge tech, we are able to transform Pirelli 35 into a truly smart building. It’s already achieved Leed Platinum and Well Gold certifications as well as its NZEB labelling stand as testament to a broader commitment not just to smart infrastructure, but to sustainability, health and the evolving standards of urban living,”.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (Leed) is a green building rating system with Platinum being the highest certification, while the Well building standard certification stresses a building’s human health and well-being. NZEB stands for Nearly Zero-Energy Building and highlights high energy performance and low-energy needs. All three are internationally recognised.