UniCredit Tower

The UniCredit Tower stands in Milan’s Porta Nuova district, a cluster of modern glass and steel buildings near Garibaldi station. At 238 metres its spire makes it Italy’s tallest structure, though its roof is lower than the nearby Allianz Tower. The tower houses the headquarters of UniCredit, the country’s largest bank by assets. A ring of new homes and offices surrounds the base, all part of a recent redevelopment of former industrial land. Piazza Gae Aulenti, a circular public square, lies directly in front of the building. The tower’s design won eighth place in the 2012 Emporis Skyscraper Award for aesthetic and functional excellence. Its eighty-metre spire is clad in LED panels that change colour for events, from green at Christmas to rainbow stripes after the Orlando shooting. The spire also displays the Italian flag every evening and has marked national and international moments of mourning. César Pelli created the overall form, while Hines Italy and COIMA developed the project, later taking full ownership. Visitors reach the tower through the wide, tree-lined streets of Porta Nuova. The glass façade reflects the surrounding plazas and water features, making the building appear to float above the pavement. Inside, the lobby is a high atrium of polished stone and metal, open to the public during business hours. From the square outside, the tower’s height is clear against the Milan skyline, especially at dusk when the spire begins its nightly light show. The area offers cafés and benches, so people can watch the changing colours while enjoying the new city quarter.