“Today, we are presenting one of the greatest European research centre on construction materials together with Roberto Formigoni, President of Regione Lombardia. Mr. Formigoni has always believed in the importance of research and innovation for the development of Lombardy Region”, Carlo Pesenti said. “It pleases us to recall that Italcementi, at the end of the fifties, intensively participated in the construction of Pirelli skyscraper by supplying an high performance cement produced in the lombardian cement plants of Calusco d’Adda, Albino and Palazzolo sull’Oglio, and by defining a special concrete mix-design developed in Bergamo research labs. Yesterday for Giò Ponti’s project, today for Richard Meier’s new ITCLab, we continue to go along our path to innovation.”

In the ITCLab building, 7,500 m² out of a total of 11,000 m² surface area will be exclusively reserved for research laboratories. ITCLab will be home to employees and researchers who are currently working at other Italcementi Group sites in Lombardy. Starting Fall 2006, construction is expected to be completed in two years’ time.

“We are still aiming at innovation. Following the launch of TX Active®, a photocatalytic principle for cement products that contributes to pollution reduction in urban areas, we are now making another step ahead with our Group’s “Innovation Project”. We want ITCLab to become the pole around which will rotate research activities on construction material and innovation projects on cement production processes”, Pesenti added. “Italcementi confirms that research and innovation are key values for the growth –not only economic but also cultural and social– of a Group that happens to be a global leader in its sector. The company has made a priority of pursuing a growth strategy that is compatible with sustainable development principles.”

The center designed by the American architect is set in the Kilometro Rosso Science & Technology Park, which is strategically located on the outskirts of Bergamo and parallel to the nearby Milan-Venice highway. The Park, which will be simultaneously home to multidisciplinary research activities undertaken by private enterprises and public establishments, is expected to employ an overall staff of about 3,000 over the next 10 years.

Richard Meier is one the most renowned architects working today. Some of his best-known projects include the High Museum in Atlanta (1983), the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (1997) and the Getty Center in Los Angeles (1997). The most remarkable architectural project accomplished in Italy is the Dives in Misericordia Church, in Rome, of which Italcementi had been the main technical sponsor. This sacred building, firmly wanted by late Pope John Paul II for the 2000 Jubilee, was visited by His Holiness Benedict XVI two days ago.

"Having worked closely together in development of a construction method for creating pure white cement curved concrete panels for the Dives in Misericordia Church in Rome, a very close collaboration developed between Italcementi and Richard Meier & Partners, with the added expertise and devotion of Gennaro Guala”, Meier said. “When Carlo Pesenti broached the idea of designing a new headquarters building in Bergamo, it was an exciting prospect to think that this close collaboration would create another outstanding work of architecture.”