Nuvola Lavazza Torino – SustainabITALY

Nuvola Lavazza

New Lavazza headquarters “Nuvola” is a Platinum Level LEED ITALIA 2009 New Construction and Renovation project. The decision to build the new Lavazza headquarters in a former industrial area to be redeveloped responds to the company’s desire to invest in the Turin area through an innovative process oriented towards dialogue with citizens and the values of environmental sustainability. Lavazza has worked to “communicate” and “inform” both the neighborhood and the company staff on the meaning of sustainable construction and LEED.

The project was developed according to the principles of the Integrative Design Process which allows the building-envelope-systems project to be developed in a synergistic way, thus defining the most appropriate solution through energy and daylight simulations in the various design phases.

On an urban scale, the building is connected to the efficient urban transport system with bus stops located in its immediate vicinity. Directly inside the Lavazza building, there is also a room dedicated to bicycle racks in order to satisfy 5% of the number of peak users, especially those commuting to the office.

Sustainability

Water. The following strategies have been adopted inside the building to improve water management.

Rainwater Collection Tank:

captures the water coming from the roofs and the terrace of the third floor to feed the toilets and the irrigation system of the green areas.

Dual WC Network:

uses rainwater to power all the toilets in the building instead of drinking water.

Efficient Irrigation System:

uses a drip irrigation system and control units with rain sensors. It also uses rainwater instead of drinking water and has high efficiency toilets and taps.

Energy. The building was designed to ensure a high energy performance thanks to the adoption of a high-performance building envelope characterized by shielding on the facade, green roofs that increase thermal insulation, and windows equipped with high thermal and visual characteristics.

The systems guarantee high efficiency due to groundwater heat pumps, pumping system with inverter, Air Handling Unit with rotary enthalpy recuperators, primary air system and radiant panels in the offices.

Environmental comfort. Environmental Comfort and Indoor Air Quality were integrated not only through the building’s technical systems but also in the details of interior finishes, program organization, and lighting fixtures.

Visual comfort. It was created at the workstations located near the glass facades and are equipped with table lamps to adjust the artificial light according to one’s visual needs. Thermohygrometric comfort and air quality was achieved through ventilation and air treatment systems capable of ensuring the correct external air flow, filtration and thermohygrometric conditions, and CO2 control in the meeting rooms.

Materials. During the project and in the procurement phase of the materials the architect, the owner, the General Contractor, and others worked to minimize the environmental impact due to the production of building materials, giving priority to the use of materials with regional origin and having high recycled content. The wood-based products used are equipped with FSC-certified wood.

Particular attention was also paid to the selection of paints, adhesives, and flooring with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content material and high standards of environmental sustainability.

Credits

Client: Luigi Lavazza S.p.a.

Architectural Building Designer: Cino Zucchi Architects

System Specialist: Manens-Tifs S.p.a Verona

Developer: Colombo Costruzioni S.p.a.

Certification Body: GBCI

LEED AP in the design phase: Manens-Tifs S.p.a.

LEED AP during the Construction Phase: Manens-Tifs S.p.a Verona (Property Consultant) Greenwich S.r.l. (LEED Consultant for the General contractor)

Commissioning Authority: Pond & Robinson

Advanced Commissioning Authority: Marco Filippi Onleco S.r.l.

IMAGE CREDITS

1 ©Andrea Martiradonna