Intesa Sanpaolo office building
The Intesa Sanpaolo head office in Turin is more than just a corporate tower—it is a sustainable, urban, and social laboratory. Strategically located at the edge of the city center, the project relates to its surroundings, offering public spaces, green zones, and energy-efficient innovations. Designed to harmonize with both people and nature, the tower stands as a beacon of environmental responsibility, architectural elegance, and civic engagement, reshaping the urban landscape while prioritizing employee well-being and community interaction. The project was awarded LEED Platinum Certification in 2015.
Urban Integration and Social Role
Located at the strategic northeast intersection of Corso Inghilterra and Corso Vittorio Emanuele II near Porta Susa Station, the Intesa Sanpaolo tower is embedded in a key metropolitan zone, surrounded by vital public services. It is designed not as an isolated structure but as a component of the urban fabric, fostering interaction and accessibility.
Adjacent to the building, the Giardino Nicola Grosa has been revitalized into a lively community park, featuring diverse plant life, open lawns, and neighborhood amenities. A public gallery provides seamless pedestrian access through the tower’s ground-floor hall, reinforcing connectivity between public space and private enterprise.
The tower itself embodies social inclusivity through its lower-level multi-purpose hall—an adaptable space for exhibitions, concerts, and conferences with seating for 364 people. Higher up, the bioclimatic greenhouse invites the public into a naturally ventilated, multi-level space featuring a rooftop terrace, exhibition area, and a restaurant with panoramic garden views. These public functions underscore the building’s commitment to civic life.
Functional Design and Employee Well-being
Standing at 166 meters, the tower is functionally divided to maximize usability and comfort. Below ground, infrastructure includes parking and utility zones, as well as a low garden that serves as a central hub for the company restaurant and an employee kindergarten. Above, 26 office floors are topped with a training center that includes amenities open to the public.
Key design elements prioritize employee health and productivity. Office ceilings reach 3.20 meters and offer optimized indirect lighting. Special attention is given to thermal comfort, spatial quality, and daylight access. The southern staircase integrates a vertical winter garden, where climbing plants act as natural light filters behind a façade of motorized louvered screens.
To the east and west, the vertical core—housing stairs and elevators—contributes to the tower’s dynamic and transparent visual identity. These architectural gestures reflect the building’s emphasis on movement, light, and vitality, supporting both aesthetic appeal and efficient circulation. Overall, the structure balances professional needs with human-centric design principles, creating an elevated workplace experience.
Environmental Innovation and Aesthetic Vision
Environmental responsibility is central to the tower’s identity. The building harnesses natural resources—air, water, and sunlight—to reduce its ecological footprint. Groundwater cools the offices, while solar panels span the entire south façade, generating renewable energy. The double-skin glass façade minimizes winter heat loss and adjusts for solar gain through motorized louvers and solar screens.
Nighttime cooling is another sustainable feature: cooler air is channeled into the double concrete slabs and released during the day via radiant panels, reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning. These systems are intelligently coordinated through an advanced Building Management System (BMS), ensuring optimal energy use and comfort.
Visually, the tower mirrors the alpine backdrop of Turin. Clad in brilliant white materials—glass, lacquered aluminum, and opalescent surfaces—it exhibits a light, almost immaterial presence. Like ice, its façade shifts in tone and reflection throughout the day and seasons, enhancing its connection to nature. The result is a photosensitive architectural landmark that symbolizes innovation, transparency, and sustainability in the heart of the city.
Project Details
Status
Client
Intesa Sanpaolo
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects
Consultants
Inarco (consulting architect); Expedition Engineering / Studio Ossola / M.Majowiecki (structure); Manens-Tifs (building services); RFR (façade engineering); Eléments Ingénieries / CSTB / RWDI (environmental studies); Golder Associates (hydrogeological consultant); GAE Engineering (fire prevention); Peutz & Associés / Onleco (acoustics); Lerch, Bates & Associates (vertical transportation); SecurComp (security); Cosil (lighting); Labeyrie & Associés (audio/ video equipment); Spooms / Barberis (kitchen equipment); Atelier Corajoud / Studio Giorgetta (landscaping); Tekne (cost consultant); Michele De Lucchi / Pierluigi Copat Architecture (Interior Design); Jacobs Italia (site supervision)
Competition, 2006
Design team: P.Vincent (partner in charge), W.Matthews, C.Pilara with J.Carter, T.Nguyên, T.Sahlmann and V.Delfaud, A.Amakasu; O. & A. Doizy (models)
Design Development, 2006-2015
Design team: P.Vincent and A.H.Temenides (partner and associate in charge), C.Pilara, V.Serafini, with A.Alborghetti, M.Arlunno, J.Carter, C.Devizzi, V.Delfaud, G.Marot, J.Pattinson, D.Phillips, L.Raimondi, D.Rat, M.Sirvin and M.Milanese, A.Olivier, J.Vargas; S.Moreau (environmental aspects) ; O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos , A.Pacé (models)
