The renovation of a railway station located near the historic center of Cattolica, Italy has earned an Envision Silver award from ICMQ, ISI’s partner in Italy, in recognition of its sustainability achievements. This is one of four pilot projects chosen by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, the owner of Italy’s railway network, to be certified using the Envision framework and rating system for sustainable infrastructure.

Instead of merely serving as a transit area, the newly-designed railway yard will play a progressively more central role in the community, providing better amenities for pedestrians and a new connection to the local city park. The front courtyard will offer more green space with native trees and plants, and a rainwater storage tank will be installed to facilitate irrigation. New dedicated areas for short- and long-term parking will be equipped with electric charging stations, and there will be a new Velo Station to encourage alternative transportation. The station’s building will be restored using sustainable building materials while preserving its historic qualities, and photovoltaic panels will be installed on the new shelters to generate energy.

These innovative renovations represent environmental, social, and economic sustainability improvements that will create better access to the station while reducing vehicular traffic and enhancing quality of life for the entire neighborhood.