Advancing Sustainability and Efficiency at Primo Building | A Case Study

Project Overview

Primo Building, a landmark located in Piazza Fidia 1 within Milan’s Isola district, exemplifies high sustainability and energy efficiency standards. Acquired and refurbished by a SICAF managed by Prelios SGR S.p.A. and fully owned by Ardian, this 12,000 sqm office complex was redeveloped to meet and exceed the most rigorous environmental certifications, including LEED Platinum, WELL Silver, WiredScore and BREEAM Very Good. The building stands as one of the few in Milan classified as Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), achieving higher energy efficiency than standard Grade A buildings.

Challenges

Despite its advanced design, Primo faced challenges in achieving continuous optimization to reach and exceed high sustainability benchmarks while maintaining tenant's comfort. Ardian and Prelios aimed to ensure that energy usage, particularly in heating, cooling, and occupancy alignment, met near-real-time benchmarks without compromising the quality of tenant experience.

Next Sense Solution

852 smart sensor devices and the Next Sense Smart Building Platform were integrated as a critical component to drive Primo’s operational efficiency beyond its design specifications. Key areas of Next Sense’s involvement included:

• Automated Performance Analytics: Next Sense provides automated analytics to monitor and assess thermal performance, energy use, and other key metrics. The actionable insights derived from this data are delivered by Next Sense's team of building performance experts, who work closely with Ardian and Prelios’ teams to support their operational goals. This collaborative approach ensures that energy     efficiency measures are precisely tailored to Primo's needs while maintaining high standards of tenant comfort.
• Enhanced ESG Tracking: Next Sense provides a full suite of monitoring tools, allowing to control and     optimize the energy use. This transparency reflects Ardian’s commitment to ESG standards.
• Energy Conservation Measures: After analyzing energy use trends, Next Sense suggested to implement conservation measures through it’s white glove customer success sessions offered by experienced building engineers. These included reprogramming lighting and HVAC schedules, adjusting temperature setpoints for non-business hours, and optimising ventilation to improve air quality in     some spaces. 

Outcomes

The integration of Next Sense has led to notable advancements in efficiency and sustainability:

• Sustainability Alignment: Through real-time reporting and monitoring, Primo remains aligned with the Paris Agreement's CO₂ emissions targets, setting a new standard in sustainable real estate.
• Higher Energy Savings: Overall, Primo has achieved high energy compared to standard benchmarks, along with reduced operational costs and CO₂ emissions. 

Conclusion

Primo Building’s partnership with Next Sense demonstrates the potential of smart technology in realizing advanced ESG goals and operational efficiencies. Ardian and Prelios’ choice to integrate Next Sense shows the value of investing in smart building solutions that support both sustainability and superior tenant experiences. 

Learn more about Primo Building on our Project Page.

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