BIG Bjarke Ingels Group to Design S.Pellegrino Flagship Factory in Bergamo

BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group has won the international design competition for the S.Pellegrino Flagship Factory, a new production facility and visitor experience center in the province of Bergamo, Italy. The competition, curated by Luca Molinari Studio, was launched by the iconic Italian mineral water brand. BIG beat out MVRDV, Snøhetta, and Michele De Lucchi. The project involves a €90 million investment and will break ground in 2018, with completion expected over four years. The design features a series of repeated arches that adapt to the Val Brembana landscape, creating a structure that blends production lines and offices. A key element is the S.Pellegrino Experience Lab, which will include a large geological reproduction tracing the water's 30-year natural journey. The first construction phase includes a bridge connecting the plant to the Zogno bypass, followed by a multi-story parking lot for heavy vehicles. Offices and the north portion of the factory, including the Experience Lab, will be developed from 2019 onward. BIG's proposal was selected for best aligning with the brand's values of sustainability, innovation, and promoting Made in Italy.