Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

The typical TGU consists of a 10mm toughened monolithic external glass (HS), a first 16mm cavity with argon filling, a 6mm intermediate monolithic tempered glass (HST), a second 16mm cavity with argon filling and finally an internal safety glass stratified 55.2.

The use of a latest generation magnetron coating (Stopray52T) on face 2 (10mm monolithic internal glass) and the application of a low-e coating on face 5 (Iplus1.1) allowed excellent photometric performance to be achieved: light transmittance (Tl) of 43%, solar factor (g) of 24% and thermal transmittance (Ug) of 0.5W/m2K.

Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Faceted prism shaped unit

The units with a faceted prism shape, also called "cusps", provide an inclination of 150 degrees along the central axis of the cell through the use of a minimal internal intermediate mullion with a triangular section which then ends, on the outside, in an aluminium profile with a diamond shape, which emphasizes the edge with a change in inclination. These units, located on the west elevation of the building, are characterized by the alternation of transparent and silk-screened double glazing. The screen printing applied is basically solid coloured RAL7000 with a transparent matrix of dots with a diameter of 2 millimetres, a pitch of 4 millimetres and an inclination of 60 degrees. The technical solution, in addition to having an aesthetic impact, has a functional feature; in fact, the solar radiation is mitigated through this continuous alternation between transparent and silk-screened glazing.

Park Associati
Park Associati
Profile Set up in 2000 by Filippo Pagliani and Michele Rossi, PARK ASSOCIATI is an architectural design studio which works on a large scale. The investigation into the dynamics and flows in urban places forms the basis of a wide range of projects for the tertiary, manufacturing and residential sectors. Equally important for the studio is the planning of interiors which pays close attention to both craftsmanship and design. This adopts a transversal approach to the planning process and a vision that seeks to interrelate cultures and specializations, experiments with new technologies and is sensitive to the issues of sustainability and energy saving. Such an approach opens up new possibilities in terms of scope and vision, and on each occasion gives rise to original compositional landscapes where architecture, place, technology and materials combine to create different spatial forms. The projects on urban and architectonic scale underline the aptitude of PARK ASSOCIATI to research solutions that can combine local identity and technological innovation, this is confirmed by the recent awards in competitions and following realized projects. The projects of PARK ASSOCIATI have been showed in several exhibitions and published in Italian and international magazines.
Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Uniformity of the façade surface "broken" by vertical architectural elements and horizontal lines

Project Specs

  • Location: Milan
  • Client: Milanofiori Sviluppo Srl
  • Integrated design and project coordination: General Planning
  • Status: completed - 2022
  • Ph. Piermario Ruggeri
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Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub
Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Technology

Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

SYSTEMS

  • Unitised structurally silicone glazed system with TGU glazing.
  • Stick system façade at lower levels and external anodised aluminium fins.
  • Ventilated façade with microperforated aluminium panels

Transparent TGU unit

The design of the transparent glazed units was addressed by specializing the extruded aluminium profiles and the sealing rubbers, in order to accommodate the several configurations. In fact, there are both fixed structural modules and structural modules with a protruding opening door, as well as modular elements designed to integrate vertical sunshade fins.

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Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Designed by

Park Associati Architects
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Live Project

The building expands the Milanofiori Nord Masterplan which includes two new buildings in the North-West area: the so-called "cliff", a group of buildings that surround the urban development. The neighbourhood takes on the clear and recognizable role of a landmark between the city and the hinterland.

With its 15 floors above ground and approximately 31,500 square meters of surface, U1 is one of the most notable achievements in the sector. The plurality of architectural styles is enriched by the shape that combines volumetric needs with the respect of the alignments of the Masterplan

The U1 has a sort of bow, elevated towards the North-West. This glass and steel blade becomes the fulcrum of the building's architectural composition. The two fronts of the development branch off from it. The body facing the highway is the largest and highest. The uniformity of its glass surface is "broken" by the dense rhythm of vertical elements and horizontal string courses, creating protection from the sun and a barrier to noise. The shorter front of the building, facing north towards the woods, achieves maximum transparency thanks to the glazed façade. Its position allows greater permeability and the relationship with the surrounding environment becomes more intense. The perception of the natural space is as direct as possible.

Other Façade Systems

Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub
Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub
Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Spandrel DGU unit

The spandrel glazed units consist of perimeter thermal break profiles, an internal painted aluminium sheet acting as a vapor barrier, an intermediate insulating mass of high-density mineral wool (80 kg/m3) and external double glazing to complete the package and to guarantee a barrier against atmospheric agents. It is stratigraphically composed of a 10mm external monolithic tempered glass (HST), a 16mm air cavity, an 8mm internal monolithic tempered glass (HST) enamelled RAL7000 on the internal side. The magnetron coating on face 2 has been adopted to simulate the appearance of the adjacent double glazing on the facade. The particular conformation of this spandrel unit allowed a ventilation path between the outside and the inside of the panel, creating efficient ventilation and guaranteeing pressure equalization of the internal chamber, in order to avoid the triggering of aesthetic defects such as convex curvature or concave of the double glazing.

Ventilated façade

West elevation features a ventilated facade consisting of with two different lines of ecological fibre cement which stands out for its durability and design flexibility: there are dark grey mass-coloured panels with thin lines of smoothing on the surface providing a natural and elegant appearance, and panels equipped with evident vertical grooves at a constant pitch which enhance a marked recessed effect further emphasised by the shadows reflected in the grooves by the sun rays.

Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub
Milanofiori U1 - Accenture People Hub

Anodised aluminium sheet panels façade

The stairwells cores were clad with a special ventilated facade with silver anodised aluminium sheet panels, progressively bent to form pronounced ridges with variable spacing, lightened with a micro-perforation matrix with an 8 mm diameter, 11 mm pitch and 60-degree inclination. This facade bases its operation on the movement of air that is triggered inside the compartmental chamber between the external panel and the concrete core in which a mineral wool panel specific for wet areas is placed. The temperature difference created between the inside and outside of the cavity origins a natural convective motion.

Stick system façade

From ground floor up to level three we find a glazed cladding consisting of a traditional stick system, bespoke sized in the various dimensions. From a glazing with 5-meter-high mullions in the internal courtyard, to the VIP entrance area with 13-meter-high mullions spaced 3 meters apart. The latter is a bold construction which required the use of composite steel mullions of welded plates to accomplish both the static requirements (inertia of 20,000 cm^4) and the designer's expectation of having a as small as possible section and, at the same time, with the presence of sharp edges. Inside this grid, double glazing was installed consisting of an external safety laminate 88.2, an 18 mm argon cavity and a final internal laminate 88.2 equipped with a low-emissivity coating on face 5 (Iplus1.1). The DGU dimension is 3 metres wide and 6 metres high for a moved unit mass of approximately 1500 kilograms.

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