The Hague, 11 March 2026 — Deerns designs critical digital and safety systems for Torre Faro, Milan’s iconic new high rise.
In Milan’s Scalo di Porta Romana district, a bold new landmark is rising. Developed by A2A and designed by ACPV Architects, Torre Faro is a 145-metre cylindrical tower destined to reshape the city skyline and create a luminous new landmark for southern Milan. This development symbolises the city’s energy transition and urban renewal within the Scalo di Porta Romana redevelopment, fusing architectural grandeur with cutting edge engineering. Beyond its striking silhouette, the project also revives early 20th century structures on site, blending history with future forward design.
Deerns has played a critical role in this complex project, acting as systems design consultant for a consortium formed by Siemens and TIM (formerly Telecom Italia). The mission? Engineer the digital and safety infrastructure that allows the architectural vision to function with intelligence and resilience.
“The building’s shape is far from conventional,” Carlo Osnaghi says. “It’s round and tapered, with almost no straight walls. This complicates everything from cable routing to technical room placement. You can’t waste a single centimetre.”
The pressure was not just architectural. Deerns worked under tight time constraints and shifting demands. Every detail was scrutinised to deliver not only functional systems but also a “Wow” factor that matched the building’s visual statement.
“There’s no shortcut on a project like this,” Carlo Osnaghi emphasises. “You need deep collaboration. At Deerns, we’re more than engineers – we’re also negotiators, bridging between creative architects and pragmatic technical needs.”
That diplomacy proved crucial. Throughout the design phase (which began in January 2021 and saw iterations through 2024), Deerns maintained responsiveness while ensuring system integrity and legal compliance.
Engineering the Invisible Infrastructure
Carlo Osnaghi, Technical Director of Deerns Italy, explains, “Siemens and TIM needed a specialist partner to translate their technology into a fully functioning environment. Whereas they build devices, we design systems.”
Deerns was engaged to design the complete suite of ‘invisible infrastructure’ for the extra low voltage systems (ELV) for Torre Faro, covering:
- ICT (Information and Communications Technology) networks
- Audiovisual systems for meeting and conference spaces
- Distributed Antenna System (DAS) for mobile signal coverage
- Building Management System (BMS) for operational oversight
- Security systems, including CCTV, access control and anti-intrusion
- Safety systems, such as smoke detection and public address/voice alarms (PAVA)
- Emergency communication infrastructure, fully compliant with fire safety mandates
These systems span across Torre Faro’s 28 floors – comprising premium office spaces, a Sky Garden at 60 meters and a publicly accessible observation deck at the summit – plus two ancillary buildings: one a protected heritage structure, the other a low-rise warehouse.
A Double Layered Design Approach
Deerns’ work unfolded in two stages. Firstly, Deerns took Siemens and TIM’s device specifications and mapped out how these would be installed to operate efficiently. Secondly, Deerns engineered the networks and infrastructure necessary to connect and power those devices.
Importantly, all work was executed within a Building Information Modelling (BIM) framework using Revit™, with real time collaboration across teams via a Cloud based platform. This allowed seamless sharing of data and coordination with architects, clients and contractors – essential in a project marked by continual design evolution.
Seamless Oversight with BMS Integration
" High rise buildings come with high stakes. Deerns engineered Torre Faro’s safety systems from scratch.
Adhering to Italian and EU fire safety codes was critical, all the while tailoring solutions to the tower’s unique layout.
Deerns developed systems around the fireproof design matrix, which determines how alarms, smoke detectors and evacuation protocols must behave in real scenarios. This meant implementing:
- Fireproof cabling and devices
- Redundant power supplies (e.g. UPS systems)
- Isolated communication zones and fail-safes
All subsystems feed into a centralised Building Management System (BMS), which acts as a monitoring layer. While each safety system must be able to function independently (per code), the BMS provides real time visibility and helps operators act faster in case of emergency.
Collaboration, Not Competition
Deerns’ edge lies in its proven track record. Torre Faro is not its first encounter with unusual architecture. The firm has contributed to similarly complex buildings including Milan’s Unipol Tower and the Hadid Tower, mastering the challenge of integrating systems in geometrically challenging environments.
In a project of this magnitude, no single firm can do it all. Deerns fits into a broader network of engineering players, each contributing their speciality.
“We’re known in Milan and across Europe for how we work and what we deliver,” says Carlo Osnaghi. “Clients come to us not just for the work, but for our ecosystem. We solve the puzzle together.”
Although Deerns’ scope did not include energy or climate systems, their ELV designs support sustainability through metering and smart integration. Torre Faro is targeting a LEED Platinum certification – the highest global benchmark for sustainable building. And, while it is not officially pursuing WiredScore, Deerns designed the building to those standards as a matter of best practice.
“It’s how we operate – future ready from the start,” Carlo Osnaghi concludes.
