GSE ITALY FOR THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGENERATION OF THE FORMER ROMANAZZI WORKSHOPS SITe

With the laying of the first pillar, the construction phase of this major brownfield redevelopment project has officially begun, returning a 32,147 m² site, long associated with abandonment and urban decay, to the local community and economic fabric.

There is a suburban area of Rome that, after experiencing significant industrial success during Italy’s economic boom years, first fell into a spiral of decline and urban abandonment and is now being brought back to life as a modern and sustainable logistics platform: the former Romanazzi Workshops on Via di Tor Cervara, in the eastern district of the Capital.

This environmental and social regeneration project, one of the most significant undertaken in Rome in recent years, is being led by GSE Italia, a leader in sustainable industrial construction with a strong focus on the logistics sector. GSE Italia is the general contractor responsible for carrying out the site remediation, demolition and hydrogeological risk mitigation works, and is currently overseeing the construction of a new 10,187 m² building, with a built volume reduced by more than 6,000 m³ compared to the previous structure.

The abandoned site will be replaced by a state-of-the-art urban logistics hub featuring advanced technologies and sustainability solutions, with completion scheduled for June 2026.

Within the 10,187 m² of the new facility, which will benefit from its strategic location close to Via Tiburtina, the GRA ring road and the A24 motorway interchange, there will be extensive warehouse areas as well as 716 m² dedicated to offices and shared spaces.

A past redeemed through logistics: economic and social recovery
With the launch of construction works at the former Romanazzi Workshops site, Rome is reclaiming an important industrial area that, after operating from the post-war period until the 1980s in the production of industrial vehicles, fell into decline following a failed conversion attempt and years of repeated occupations. Thanks to its strategic location, the area is now entering a new phase of regeneration through logistics development, bringing significant economic benefits and employment opportunities. It is estimated that, once fully operational, the companies using the logistics platform will create approximately one hundred new jobs. This represents a replicable model that could be applied to other abandoned industrial sites at risk of degradation, which, due to their proximity to transport infrastructure, could also be brought back to social and economic life through logistics-led regeneration.

“The regeneration project we are implementing in Rome is tangible proof that it is possible to recover and redevelop an abandoned, degraded and contaminated industrial site, transforming it into an opportunity for the local area,” stated Valentino Chiarparin, Country Manager of GSE Italia. “Urban regeneration is a challenge we must win if we are to stop land consumption and urban decay, and brownfield development provides the answer. Logistics is the ideal sector for this approach because of its intrinsic characteristics and its strong impact on employment and local economic activity.”

Towards a second life: sustainability and innovation
The regeneration plan for the former Romanazzi Workshops developed by GSE Italia, in line with the objectives shared with the client, is targeting LEED Gold certification, an international benchmark for excellence in sustainable construction. The project incorporates cutting-edge solutions for energy efficiency, emissions reduction and the responsible reuse of resources: more than 90% of materials resulting from demolition works will be reused in the construction process, avoiding landfill disposal, while the new buildings will use low-carbon concrete.
To ensure maximum energy efficiency, the facility will be equipped with high-efficiency heat pumps, a smart energy management system (BMS – Building Management System), and will be prepared for the installation of photovoltaic panels.

Particular attention has also been paid to the quality of indoor environments: offices and common areas have been designed to maximize comfort and wellbeing, with architectural solutions that enhance natural daylight, acoustic performance and space flexibility.