The project for the Parc des Expositions (PEX) station and the pedestrian bridges on Line 17 of the Grand Paris Express has won the BEST DESIGN AWARD 2026, presented during the 30th Congress of the CTA – Collegio dei Tecnici dell’Acciaio, held in Rome on 1–2 October.

This is a particularly significant recognition for Steel Project Engineering, which was responsible for the detailed design of the structures and erection phases of the project, built by Cimolai S.p.A. and representing a work of particular structural and construction complexity.

The new elevated station, approximately 181 metres long and arranged over four levels, features a composite steel-concrete load-bearing structure and an arched steel roof clad with ETFE membranes. An extensive system of steel pedestrian bridges completes the project, crossing the existing railway infrastructure.

The design required particular attention to the optimisation of structural solutions, dynamic behaviour, construction details and erection methodologies, in a context characterised by significant operational constraints and railway interfaces.

The project was presented at the Congress by Eng. Ennio Picco, Technical Director of Cimolai S.p.A.

This recognition is a source of great satisfaction for us and rewards a project in which structural design, engineering development and construction solutions were closely integrated.

An achievement we share with Cimolai S.p.A. and all the professionals who contributed to the construction of the project.

Once again this year, Steel Project Engineering will take part in the 30th CTA Congress, with several contributions dedicated to projects and experiences involving our team.

Eng. Alessandro Moro will present the erection design for the Clarea Viaduct at the new Maddalena interchange on the A32 Frejus motorway, developed for Cimolai. A project in which the design of the erection phases plays a central role in the construction of the structure.

Eng. Andrea Manzi will present the construction and erection design of the cycle and pedestrian bridge over the Oberhafen canal in Hamburg, with a total length of 135 m. Steel Project Engineering developed both the construction and erection design, addressing a complex geometry and site constraints that also required the use of a floating crane to install the large bridge sections.

Eng. Fabio Rosini will present the Ponti Sud project for the AFV Acciaierie Beltrame plant, focusing on the structural and design aspects that characterised the development and construction of the project.

Eng. Enrico Zambella will present the new Manzoni Bridge over the Adda River, a 772 m long structure built as part of the SS36 modernisation project. Steel Project Engineering developed the structural detailed design for the bridge and access ramps, as well as the erection and launching design for the steel decks, with spans of up to 100 m.

Eng. Alessio Maneo will present the work on Pavilions 13-15 at Fiera Milano Rho-Pero, a redevelopment project linked to the preparation of the facilities for Milano Cortina 2026 and already featured among Steel Project Engineering’s technical activities presented within the CTA context.

Eng. Ennio Picco, Technical Director of CIMOLAI, will present the Parc des Expositions (PEX) station and pedestrian bridges on Line 17 of the Grand Paris Express, a complex project integrating steel structures, composite decks, arched roofs and pedestrian connection systems. Eng. Simona Paone contributed to its development on behalf of Steel Project Engineering.

Eng. Simone Pardini, together with the colleagues who shared the experience with him in Rwanda, will present the project carried out with Bridges to Prosperity: the construction of a Tibetan-style suspended pedestrian bridge designed to improve safety and mobility for local rural communities. The project was carried out in a challenging environment, with limited equipment, partly reused materials and strong involvement from the local community. The volunteers took an active role in the construction work, combining technical expertise, organisation and, above all, teamwork.

Different contributions in terms of scale, context and complexity, united by a common focus on structural design, construction phases and the delivery of steel structures.

See you in Rome!

Starting today, Steel Project Engineering’s email footer is changing with the introduction of a simple reminder: “Think about the environment before printing this email. Print it only if strictly necessary.”

A small change to one of our most everyday communication tools, designed to help keep attention focused on an issue that is becoming increasingly important to us.

Sustainability is not only about individual behaviour or organisational choices. It is becoming increasingly relevant to our industry as well, influencing the way we conceive and develop structural and infrastructure design.

Reducing impacts, using resources and materials responsibly, durability, resilience and considering the entire life cycle of structures are all playing an increasingly important role in design decisions. Engineering design must therefore address not only technical, functional and economic requirements, but also an increasingly tangible environmental awareness.

Steel Project Engineering continues to develop sustainability-related expertise and tools in this direction. At the beginning of 2026, we prepared a simplified sustainability report, while last May we shared the news that Eng. Giovanni Costa had achieved the Envision Specialist credential, related to infrastructure sustainability and the assessment of environmental, social and economic aspects throughout the life cycle of projects.

Adding an environmental message to our email footer is a simple gesture, but one that is consistent with a broader journey: bringing sustainability increasingly into the way we work, communicate and design.

Issue 02/2026 of Costruzioni Metalliche features an article dedicated to the redevelopment of Pavilions 13 and 15 at fieramilano Rho-Pero, carried out for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The project transformed the two pavilions into a single covered space of approximately 35,000 m², used during the Games as the speed skating venue.

To make this transformation possible, 12 internal columns were removed, while the existing roof was supported by four new steel truss structures, known as “cavalletti”, spanning more than 111 metres.

The article describes the main stages of the project: structural design, construction detailing, assembly, lifting, testing and the transfer of loads from the existing columns to the new load-bearing structures.

It is also one of those projects that clearly demonstrates the tangible impact of structural engineering: what begins with calculation models and design drawings ultimately becomes a real, recognisable space that people can use and experience.

In this case, structural design and erection engineering made a radical transformation of the existing building possible, while keeping the geometry and structural behaviour of the roof under control throughout every operational phase.

We thank Fondazione Fiera Milano for authorising the publication and the BIT S.p.A.–MBM S.p.A. joint venture for involving us in this major project.

A video filmed during a competition day at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games is available at the following link:
https://youtu.be/CelFc_S3aVo

Safety is built on everyday attention, prevention and shared responsibility. For this reason, Steel Project Engineering proposed, during the condominium meeting, the installation of a defibrillator for the building in which our offices are located.

The proposal was approved and represents an important milestone for us. The presence of a defibrillator is a valuable safety measure not only for those who work in the building, but also for all the people who visit it every day.

This is even more significant considering the presence of several activities open to the public and in contact with children and families, including professional offices, healthcare services, dentists, speech therapists and other services aimed at external users.

The most suitable location for the device still needs to be identified, so that it can be easily accessed and clearly visible in case of need. Once installed, the building will have an additional tool to respond promptly to potential emergency situations.

The installation will be accompanied by awareness and training initiatives aimed at explaining the correct use of the defibrillator and strengthening the culture of first aid.

For Steel Project Engineering, ISO 45001 certification is not simply a formal recognition, but a concrete commitment to protecting people’s health and safety. This initiative confirms the company’s intention to translate the principles of its Health and Safety Management System into real, useful and shared actions.

It’s time for our summer break too.

Steel Project Engineering offices will be closed from 17 to 28 August inclusive. We will be back in operation on Monday 31 August.

We wish all our clients, partners and collaborators a wonderful summer.

More than two years after our first update on the project, we return to the New Railway Industrial Facility (NSIF) of FFS in Arbedo-Castione, an important project for the Ticino region and for the future of railway maintenance.

The construction site has now reached a significant stage of progress and is proceeding in line with the planned schedule. According to a recent report by laRegione, ten months after the laying of the foundation stone, approximately 60% of the concrete and half of the steel planned for the construction had already been used.

For Steel Project Engineering, this is a particularly significant project. As part of the tender awarded to the Consorzio Officine Ticinesi CSC Costruzioni – SOTTAS SA – Webuild, our team developed the technical section of the bid dossier relating to the steel structures of the buildings and subsequently also carried out their detailed design.

Seeing the new facility now physically taking shape is a great source of satisfaction and further demonstrates the value of the design work that precedes and accompanies the construction of complex projects of this scale.

The recent video published by laRegione provides a close-up view of the current state of the construction site and the scale of the project. The article, published on 23 July 2026, highlights the advanced stage of the works and confirms that the schedule is being respected.

Congratulations to all the companies, designers and professionals involved in the construction of the NSIF. We are proud to have made our contribution to this important project for Ticino.

To watch the video and learn more about the progress of the works, please refer to the laRegione article: https://www.laregione.ch/cantone/bellinzonese/1939942/nuovo-manutenzione-stabilimento-nsif-lavoro-lavori-impianto-cantiere

Eng. Costa has obtained the Envision Specialist qualification, a certification issued by ICMQ and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), dedicated to professionals working in the field of sustainability applied to infrastructure projects.

The Envision framework is one of the leading international references for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure works, adopting an integrated approach that considers environmental, social and economic aspects throughout the entire life cycle of a project.

This qualification certifies specific expertise in the application of tools and criteria aimed at guiding the design and development of infrastructure towards more sustainable, resilient solutions that are mindful of their impacts on communities and the surrounding environment.

Steel Project Engineering participated in the 5th edition of the “Design and Construction of Steel Bridges” course, organized by Fondazione Promozione Acciaio.

The course provided an important opportunity for technical insight into the design, construction, erection and maintenance of steel bridges, with contributions from leading professionals and specialists in the field.

As part of the programme, Eng. Giovanni Costa, who also served as the scientific coordinator of the course, delivered a presentation on girder bridges, focusing on technical solutions, design criteria, analysis and verification of steel structures.

Eng. Leonardo Balocchi addressed the topic of erection engineering, with particular attention to structural calculations, heavy lifting operations, incremental launching methods and the verification of bridge decks and erection equipment.

Participation in the course reflects Steel Project Engineering’s ongoing commitment to specialist technical training, professional exchange and the sharing of practical experience in the field of steel infrastructure.

Steel Project Engineering strengthens its commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility with the publication of its SMART Sustainability Report, available on the dedicated digital platform:
https://lg.csrreport.it/rapporti

The document represents a transparent reporting tool outlining the company’s activities, decisions and results in the fields of environmental, social and governance (ESG).

Although it is not a mandatory requirement for our organization, Steel Project Engineering has voluntarily decided to prepare and publish this report, convinced that sustainability is a key element for responsible business development and long-term value creation.

The SMART Sustainability Report clearly presents the company’s commitment across several strategic areas, including:

• attention to people and the enhancement of skills

• promotion of equal opportunities and inclusion

• integration of digital innovation and sustainability within design processes

• attention to environmental impacts and responsible management of activities

The report was developed thanks to the collaboration with Servizi di Promozione e Sviluppo Economico and the PID Office – Punto Impresa Digitale, which supported the company in structuring and publishing the document on the dedicated platform.

This initiative represents another step for Steel Project Engineering towards a more transparent, innovative and sustainability-oriented business model, in line with the values that guide the company’s daily work and its relationships with clients, partners and the local community.