By Sara Rossi and Elvira Pollina
MILAN (Reuters) -One of the giant Generali signs that crown the Italian insurer’s head offices in Milan collapsed on Monday, remaining atop the 170 metre-high (558 ft) skyscraper but at risk of crashing to the ground, firefighters said on Monday.
Generali, which is Italy’s biggest insurer, said there were no injuries, adding that staff had been instructed to remain at home and work remotely.
“The situation has been promptly managed with the collapsed sign immediately secured without any damage to people or the surrounding structures,” it said in a note.
“The possible causes of the accident are being assessed. Generali will continue to promptly provide all relevant updates,” it added.
Firefighters said they were working with Generali personnel to prevent the sign from dislodging from the top of the building and plunging to the ground. The area has been cordoned off and the nearby metro station shut.
The Generali building, known as the Hadid Tower, is part of Milan’s CityLife redevelopment project, which saw the construction of three iconic skyscrapers dubbed Le Tre Torri – “three towers” in Italian – on the grounds of the former trade fair.
Built between 2014 and 2017 and spanning 44 storeys, the Generali tower was designed by the late Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid.
The other two towers, which house the Milan offices of German insurer Allianz and consultancy firm PwC respectively, were designed by architects Arata Isozaki and Daniel Libeskind.
The CityLife project also includes high-end apartment buildings surrounding the park where the three towers are located as well as a shopping centre.
Dozens of employees of the shopping centre queued outside the cordoned-off area waiting to see if they would be allowed in, according to a Reuters eyewitness.
(Reporting by Sara Rossi, Elvira Pollina, Andrea Mandala and Gianluca Semeraro; Writing by Valentina Za; Editing by Gavin Jones, Alvise Armellini and Joe Bavier)
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