Google Italy's New Home: Porta Nuova Isola, designed by William McDonough + Partners, developed by Hines

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hines Italia SGR, a leader in the management of Italian and international real estate funds, announced today that Google has signed a 5,000-square-meter (53,800-square-foot) lease for its Italian offices at Porta Nuova, the Hines mixed-use development in Milan. 

Designed by William McDonough + Partners, the office building optimizes the workplace environment through efficient floor plates and core layout, natural ventilation, access to the outdoors through a series of exterior terraces, and a high-performance window glazing system that maximizes views and transparency while minimizing heat gain.  The building envelope is expected to achieve LEED^® Gold certification, while the office spaces will comply with the guidelines for LEED Commercial Interiors.

Google will consolidate its Italian operation in the Porta Nuova Isola building, an 11-story, 10,000-square-meter (107,600-square-foot) office building that is part of Porta Nuova, one of the largest urban redevelopments in Europe.

With the signing of the Google lease, the office building at Porta Nuova Isola is now 80 percent leased to Google and Pandora Jewelry.

"Manfredi Catella, CEO of Hines Italia Sgr, commented, "Google's relocation of its Italian headquarters to Porta Nuova confirms the unique and innovative character of this major urban redevelopment project. The area is quickly emerging as a new vital hub for Italy's economy and future." Joe Borrett, Director of Real Estate & Construction (EMEA) for Google, said: "We are excited that this move to Porta Nuova will enable us to locate all our Milan team in a single office." Google's corporate culture of environmental sensitivity and social responsibility fits perfectly with the philosophy of the project and the history of the surrounding neighborhoods.

William McDonough + Partners is a design firm of architects, planners, and others. In 1994, the practice relocated from New York to Charlottesville, Virginia, when William McDonough was named dean of the University of Virginia's School of Architecture. The Charlottesville studio established a leading role in sustainable design through a diverse range of notable projects and in 2006, the firm opened a studio in San Francisco, California to strengthen its Bay Area presence. Learn more about William McDonough + Partners at www.mcdonoughpartners.com. 

HINES ITALIA SGR is a leading independent manager of real estate investment funds on behalf of Italian and international institutional investors. Hines Italia SGR was authorised by the Bank of Italy in July 2009 and currently manages 11 real estate investment funds, with more than three billion euros under management. Hines Italia SGR is controlled by Hines and other shareholders including Manfredi Catella, Gruppo Assicurativo Unipol and Micheli e Associati.  Hines is one of the world's largest institutional real estate investment managers controlling assets worth more than 19 billion euros.

PORTA NUOVA is a mixed-use development of 360,000 square-meters including office, residential, retail and cultural venues, representing one of the largest urban development projects under construction in Europe today.  At the heart of the redeveloped area lies the Giardini di Porta Nuova (Porta Nuova Gardens), a public park of approximately 90,000 sqm with over 1,500 trees inserted in a pedestrian and bicycle area of over 160,000sqm.  Porta Nuova is located in Italy's most connected transport hub, served by four metro lines, the urban railway link, and two high-speed train stations.

SOURCE William McDonough + Partners