CityLife | Milan, Italy
Completion Date: 2021
Project Overview
CityLife, a 90-acre multipurpose district close to Milan’s old city center, brings together the talents of three starchitects: Arata Isozaki, Zaha Hadid, and Daniel Libeskind — each designing one of three CityLife towers.
CPP worked on two of the three towers: the AllianzTower designed by Arata Isozaki and the Torre Generali designed by Zaha Hadid. The AllianzTower MORE INFO HERE. The Torre Generali was described by The Guardian as the “Queen of the curve.” It is an apt reference, given the building’s unique aesthetic. From the base and sweeping up, the building curves with a Helical Twist.
Why CPP
CPP’s involvement with the project began with Isozaki’s AllianzTower. The structural engineer on the project had brought in another lab to analyze wind loads. Some of the findings proved problematic with wind loads and accelerations higher than anticipated providing severe design challenges.
CPP was then asked to provide testing for the Torre Generali. As explained by CPP’s Dr. Roy Denoon, “The unique curvature serves to reduce wind loads, not increase them, making the building more stable.”
Several years after CPP’s initial testing and recommendations had been completed, the project returned for additional testing. The tower was acquired by Italy’s Assicurazioni Generali, the third largest insurance group in the world by revenue. The company wanted to install signage 191.5m up on the building to bear the company name and requested testing to determine the wind impact of the signage.
Signage on elevating mounts can present a distinct testing challenge. On a scale replica for use in the wind tunnel, even the small tubes for gauging wind impact can alter outcomes. Consequently, CPP engineers mounted the signage replica on a high-frequency balance to produce accurate results and calibrate later pressure measurements.
Client Info
Expert Details
Dr. Roy Denoon
