Rodano Consortile Scarl
Arch. Santiago Calatrava
Reggio Emilia
Transport
28.000 mq
1997 – 2002
Designed by Architect Santiago Calatrava, the new train station in Reggio Emilia, inaugurated on June 9, 2013, received design contributions from the Manens team in the area of MEP systems.
The building features a futuristic design that includes the repetition, twenty-five times, of a module measuring 25.40 m in length, composed of a sequence of thirteen different steel portals, spaced about one meter apart. This sequence generates a dynamic wave-like effect.
The thermal and hygrometric requirements of the various rooms, along with their heights and air renewal volumes, necessitated energy-efficient choices in the mechanical systems, focusing on flexibility in installation and management of individual equipment while ensuring maximum reliability. To achieve this, Manens opted for technical solutions that represent the optimal compromise between complexity, cost, and management benefits.
One of the first measures taken was the recovery of energy from the air expelled from the spaces through heat exchangers installed in the air conditioning systems. Additionally, the climate treatment of the renewal air was divided among multiple machines, maximizing the use of free cooling. To minimize spare parts inventory and simplify maintenance procedures, a high standardization of components was agreed upon.
The design team also emphasized the importance of reliability and safety that the systems must possess, given the nature of the facility. Consequently, there is a commitment to implement systems that, while not oversized in capacity, are still capable of responding effectively to potential partial system failures, ensuring the maintenance of minimum comfort conditions, especially in areas with high occupancy.
Ivana Congiu, BIM manager engineer at Verona office of Manens-Tifs, was interviewed by Aldo Norsa in the magazine IoARCH in an article entitled ‘The BIM manager as a guarante