THE GATE

 The Gate complex belongs to General Electric Capital Real Estate and is the result of a refurbishment project on a property located in the heart of the Porta Nuova business district. Constructed in 1967 and previously occupied by Regional Government offices.

The building stands at the corner of a square plot between Via Melchiorre Gioia and Via Cardano, and has a total of 9 floors above ground and 5 below ground. The complex was designed to accommodate multiple tenants, with a 50% share for the General Electric Group, and has a double profile layout with open-plan and cellular work areas with corresponding ancillary areas. When developing the implementation phases, the design submitted by the company Goring and Straja Architects was reviewed in anticipation of the tender for the site phases.

The façade was removed and the interior of the building stripped out simultaneously, and the façade and loft areas cleared of any asbestos fibres present.

The Gate was redesigned in line with a sustainable architecture philosophy using design solutions with a low environmental impact.

The complex has been awarded LEED Gold certification thanks to the detailed design of geothermal applications and solar protection, and the integration of highly energy-efficient engineering solutions throughout the complex. Such quality solutions and high levels of energy efficiency increase the awareness of environmental sustainability and its advantages in relation to maintenance costs.

The new office areas at The Gate have suspended flooring, new ceilings and a contemporary interior layout which is flexible and can be adapted to a myriad of requirements. When considering the distribution of areas, significant focus was placed on designing communal areas that make the work environment more comfortable.

A large panoramic meeting room was created on the top floor, which is set back from the façade level and surrounded by a roof garden. The ground floor has been decorated with mechanical components and gear systems which allude to GE's core business, and also contains the hallway, meeting rooms and open-plan communal areas.  The 5 underground levels had previously been used as garages, but were changed during the design phase. Two of these five floors have been redesigned as archives and a gym for the exclusive enjoyment of building users.   The previously uncovered internal car park has been protected with a hanging garden visible from inside the building and accessible from the first floor.