Milan’s New Library Built to Withstand Po Valley Groundwater

The facility functions as both a digital clearinghouse and a physical laboratory, bridging municipal and university library networks across Lombardy. To address the engineering challenges posed by the site’s hydrology, the construction team utilized a crystalline waterproofing admixture known as PENETRON ADMIX. Supplier UNICAL integrated this additive directly into the foundation slab and below-grade retaining walls during the pour.

Once in contact with moisture, the admixture triggers a chemical reaction that creates a non-soluble crystalline structure within the concrete’s pores and capillaries. According to Enricomaria Brac, CEO of Penetron Italy, this process effectively seals microcracks to prevent water ingress and structural corrosion. The architecture itself reflects the site's industrial past, featuring two parallel, trapezoidal naves that anchor a 13,000-square-meter redevelopment project aimed at transforming the urban landscape of the Po Valley.