Today, Automobili Lamborghini inaugurated their latest building designed specifically for the development of prototypes and pre-series vehicles. The new structure is the first multi-story industrial building in Italy to earn Class A energy certification. Attending the ceremony were Corrado Clini, Minister of the Environment, Land and Sea; Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini; Paola Gazzolo, Regional Councillor for Territorial Security of Emilia-Romagna; and Daniela Occhiali, Mayor of Sant’Agata Bolognese, as well as numerous distinguished dignitaries and officials.
The occasion represents a further development in Lamborghini’s strategy towards environmental sustainability. Moreover, it shows Lamborghini’s desire to send a positive message of recovery to the Emilia region, hit hard by the recent earthquakes. As further proof of Lamborghini’s solidarity with the towns and cities impacted, the company has made donations towards the rebuilding of five school laboratories. In addition, it announced today at the press conference that a part of the proceeds from the events celebrating Automobili Lamborghini’s 50th anniversary in 2013 will be contributed to help rebuild cultural treasures and places of worship in areas damaged by the earthquake.
“Our new building confirms Lamborghini’s commitment not only to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, but also to advanced technology and innovation with an eye on the future” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based company.
“The earthquakes that recently struck our region caused serious problems that have placed a considerable strain on us, on our families, and on our local area. However, we know that the strength to begin a new springs from the daily commitment and the work that each of us brings to bear. That’s why today’s inauguration also has a symbolic meaning of renaissance and of a strong impetus for recovery”.
“Inaugurating a sustainable, antiseismic industrial building here today at Lamborghini, in the heart of the area struck by the earthquake, sends an important signal,” commented Corrado Clini, Minister of Environment, Land and Sea. “It expresses the strong, determined desire to move forward that is evident in the Emilia area.”
THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING
Developed in cooperation with the Prospazio engineering studio, the new multi-story structure was specially designed to earn the Class A industrial energy rating (yearly energy consumption: = 8 Kwh/m3) and is the first industrial building in Italy to be built with such characteristics.
This result was achieved by utilizing latest-generation solutions and techniques for the external facings. In fact, the façade consist of special walls made of triple-layer polycarbonate and of ventilated walls covered with ultrathin ceramic cladding, which were specifically created in the “Lamborghini black” color and provide a high level of thermal insulation. The new building also meets today’s latest anti-seismic regulations.
The building will then be equipped with a photovoltaic system that generates enough power to meet its yearly electricity needs, so it will have zero CO2 impact. This requirement will become the standard that all new Lamborghini buildings must meet.
On the second floor of the building, a “mini” assembly line with advanced technical solutions has been set up to duplicate the entire range of assembly steps performed on a standard production line. The miniature line will be used to carefully study the steps in assembling pre-series models, so that high standards of quality can be reached during subsequent industrial production.
The same line can be used to build a small series of vehicles such as the Sesto Elemento technological demonstrator introduced at the Paris Motor Show, with 20 units being produced as a limited edition.