Generali reopens its historic Palazzo Berlam headquarters in Trieste to the public, completely renovated thanks to the project by the architect and designer Mario Bellini, who was entrusted with the work at the end of an international competition. The 10-story building, renovated over four years from 2015 to 2019, is now destined to host the Generali Group Academy, the new global training center of the insurance group: a school of excellence created to support Leo in managing the transformation processes of society and the world, building and strengthening new leadership, promoting career paths with the development of skills, helping to attract, develop and retain talent.
Built between 1926 and 1928 to a design by Arduino Berlam, the building represents one of the best examples of modernist architecture in Trieste of the last century. In addition to training activities, Palazzo Berlam will also host the Generali Historical Archive, an Auditorium and a space for events. The interior design project of the building was also entrusted to the architect and designer Mario Bellini. The floors of the Generali Group Academy are set up with flexible and configurable training spaces thanks to movable walls and equipped with latest generation collaboration and communication tools.
All the spaces have been organized according to the "Smart Workspaces" guidelines that characterize Generali's offices at an international level. Located between two historic headquarters of Assicurazioni Generali, Palazzo Carciotti and Palazzo Geiringer, the historic building was acquired by the Company in 1932 to become an office building. The renovation works involved the entire body of the building, both inside and out, with particular attention to the recovery of the original architectural details.
“The transformation and recovery of Palazzo Berlam – he commented the president of Generali, Gabriele Galateri di Genola – is a significant case of intervention on an iconic building of the city, loved and recognized by the citizens. Thus consolidating a deep link with its history, the global footprint of the Group is found today in the choice of this marvelous building as the international headquarters for Generali's training. Here the women and men of our Group will be trained and will have the task of continuing, in the years to come, the mission of global player in an increasingly dynamic and challenging context".
“Exactly three hundred years after the establishment of the Free Port of Trieste – he added Aldo Mazzocco, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Generali Real Estate -, gateway to the sea of the then Austrian empire, we reopen Palazzo Berlam to commercial and insurance activities, both with our Academy and with spaces for common use that bring it back to the center of the Generali Group's operations. Whenever we invest in properties of such importance in beautiful cities like Trieste, we are certain that we are also creating lasting value for future generations and for our clients”.
