Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. Where did you work prior to your current role?
My background is in architecture, and I am a graduate of the Polytechnic in Turin and Milan. Before joining Lendlease, I spent a few years abroad, including Turkey and the Middle East, mainly working on projects of urban regeneration. I joined Lendlease five years ago, when the company actually won the tender for MIND.
Tell us a bit about your role in Lendlease
My job mainly centres around developing the MIND Masterplan project, with a strong focus on the part related to private development. The task is rather challenging as it involves the participation of Arexpo, the public majority-owned company, owning the area, and the public authorities of both Rho and Milan. This is the first project of its kind in Italy, in which Lendlease has obtained a concession for 99 years. Moreover, I am also working on finding the right space for the tenants of MIND.
What are the goals of the project?
The main objective of this project is to create a new pole of excellence in Milan, an Innovation District totally integrated with similar realities around the globe. The MIND area has been envisaged to be a 24/7 location where people can connect and live, work, study, and spend their free time together. This goes along with our philosophy of full commitment to the needs of the final user. Ideally, we would like to create a community, based on values such as sharing, inclusiveness, safety and full sustainability. We strongly believe that an integrated community can foster innovation and add value to the physical location.
Why do you think this project is different?
MIND is different in every respect: from design to quality of the construction. The project is a totally open area, where water and green space are central to the idea of creating a beautiful and, at the same time, user-friendly environment. The project includes spaces for people to walk and meet, where they can share ideas. The whole philosophy of the project is based on the creation of a space where the different companies function as a network, a place where the mantra is "collaborate to compete". Central to this vision is the perfect design of the ground floor as a space where everything is integrated and no doors exist.
How important is the sustainability angle for Lendlease?
We are utterly committed to a sustainable environment and, as a result, we are implementing a zero-carbon policy with very strict goals in all regions where Lendlease operates. Specifically, we adhere to a net zero carbon policy for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2025 and an absolute zero carbon by 2040. We are also focussing on the social part of the ESG framework. As an example, we have promoted Programma 2121, a shared value partnership with the Minister for Justice that promotes the social inclusion of offenders through vocational training and internship in the construction sector. One of these ex-inmates now works in MIND.
Does Lendlease work on any similar projects elsewhere?
MIND is the first example where Lendlease works on a project linking urban regeneration and the life sciences industry. However, the company is fully committed to its strategy on privileging gateway cities. Lendlease's vision is to create places where communities thrive, and the company is involved in more than 20 urban regeneration projects in the world. One of the future projects on which the company will be working is the regeneration of a part of Silicon Valley in partnership with Google. One of the ideas behind the project is to improve the integration of the different tenants in the area.
Does Lendlease work on any other projects in Milan?
Lendlease believes Milan has strong growth potential and is one of the leading cities in Europe. The other large project run by the company is Santa Giulia, a 110-hectare mixed-use development with the potential for 3,400 homes alongside commercial space.
