RAI | Viale Mazzini 14 – Rome
The Context
Rai’s historic headquarters at Viale Mazzini 14 in Rome will undergo a full renovation to be completed by 2028. The 1960s building will be redesigned with a focus on sustainability, biophilia, and modern functionality, while preserving the architectural identity of Francesco Berarducci’s original design. Led by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and DBA PRO Spa, the project includes asbestos removal, restoration of the steel framework, and upgrades for seismic and energy efficiency. Interior spaces will be modern, flexible, and technology-driven, adapted for smart working and employee well-being. About 1,300 staff members will be temporarily relocated during the four-year construction. Covering over 30,000 square meters, the renovation is part of Rai’s 10-year real estate plan and marks a major urban regeneration effort that enhances a key landmark in Rome’s Prati district.
Structure and Safety
The existing steel and concrete frames undergo a comprehensive campaign of tests and structural verifications, increasing reliability and seismic safety.
Metal components are protected with intumescent coatings that raise the fire resistance from REI 60 to REI 90, ensuring durability and compliance with the latest European standards.
Construction activities are supported by advanced digital safety management, including IoT monitoring, anti-collision crane systems, and VR-based training tools.
Façades and Roof
The façade system is completely redesigned using high-performance triple glazing and acoustically insulated spandrel panels (Rw up to 48 dB).
This improves thermal performance and acoustic comfort while maintaining the building’s characteristic transparency.
The new roof structure integrates high-efficiency waterproof membranes, thermal insulation, and photovoltaic-ready systems, ensuring energy optimization and low maintenance.
Together, these elements contribute to the building’s bioclimatic performance and visual coherence.
Interior Design and Comfort
Interiors are conceived as flexible, bright, and acoustically balanced environments.
Textile floorings made from recycled fibers and PET felt improve absorption (αw = 0.30) and comfort underfoot, while metal ceilings with acoustic backing enhance sound quality in open spaces.
Lighting systems use DALI-controlled LEDs, reducing consumption and adapting to natural light levels.
The design emphasizes simplicity, durability, and wellbeing — ensuring comfortable, efficient, and inclusive workspaces.
Sustainability and Innovation
Sustainability is integrated across every scale:
- Materials are low-emission, recycled, and Cradle to Cradle certified.
- Production processes employ renewable energy and responsible water management.
- The project complies with LEED and CAM protocols, confirming its environmental excellence.
Digital tools such as BIM coordination, IoT tracking, and smart-site management optimize construction processes, ensuring precision and minimizing waste.
Art and Cultural Heritage
The intervention preserves and revalorizes the artistic heritage of the headquarters.
Works by Gino Marotta, the “Cavallo Morente” sculpture, and the Sala Arazzi’s wooden interiors are carefully restored and reintegrated into the new spaces.
This dialogue between art, memory, and architecture celebrates RAI’s cultural legacy while framing it within a renewed and contemporary context.
Conclusion
The new RAI Headquarters in Viale Mazzini is the result of a balanced synthesis between heritage and innovation, architecture and technology, efficiency and identity.
Through environmental responsibility, advanced design, and cultural sensitivity, the project transforms a historic complex into a 21st-century intelligent building — open, sustainable, and deeply connected to the values of public service and Italian creativity.
