Terna Headquarters Renovation in Rome: A Sustainable, Flexible Workplace Transformation by IT'S Studio & eFM

The renovation of the Terna Headquarters in Rome marks a significant evolution in contemporary corporate design, led by IT'S Studio and eFM. Completed in 2024, the 1,100 m² ground-floor redesign reimagines workplace culture through flexibility, hybrid work models, sustainability, and user well-being. The project introduces a fresh architectural language rooted in material innovation, digital infrastructure, and adaptive spatial programming, aligning Terna’s identity as a forward-thinking energy company with a resilient and people-centered environment.

A New Vision for Contemporary Work Environments

IT'S Studio and eFM approached the Terna Headquarters renovation with a dual objective: • Support Terna’s internal transformation toward flexible and hybrid modes of working. • Redefine the spatial aesthetic with materials and atmospheres that express technological innovation and environmental responsibility.

The project introduces adaptable work settings with varying degrees of privacy, connectivity, and mobility. From collaborative hubs to quiet zones and digital literacy areas, each space is equipped with advanced IT infrastructure, enabling seamless workflows in an increasingly hybrid landscape.

A Dynamic Public Space for Work, Interaction, and Leisure

The redesigned ground floor is conceived as a large, open public space organized into two distinct wings:

1. Hybrid Work Zone

This area integrates: • Resting lounges • Digital learning areas • Modular collaborative workstations Movable partitions allow the environment to shift fluidly based on activity, supporting anything from casual meetings to focused tasks.

2. Dining & Café Wing

The dining area and café serve as a multifunctional social hub. Designed for all-day use, the café can transform into a workspace or casual meeting spot, blurring the lines between work and leisure while fostering community and interaction.

A Welcoming, Sustainable Reception Experience

The entrance opens into a bright, expansive reception area featuring a custom soft-shaped desk crafted from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic, developed in collaboration with Plastiz. This bespoke piece reflects the project’s commitment to circular materials and environmental stewardship.

Custom furnishings, crafted from compact slabs with vivid colored veining, reinforce the sustainable narrative while adding a distinct visual identity inspired by Terna’s technological edge.

Sustainable Materials & Sensory Architecture

Material selection plays a central role in shaping the sensory and environmental impact of the project:

• Linoleum flooring: made from natural components like flaxseed oil, wood flour, jute, and cocoa waste, enhances sustainability in the dining area. • Santa Fiora natural stone, sourced locally in central Italy, gives the reception and common areas a grounded, regional identity. • Reflective aluminum wall cladding introduces depth, light play, and dynamic movement. • Exposed building infrastructure reveals the technical heart of the facility, creating a dialogue between raw utility and refined surfaces.

Acoustic comfort is addressed through new sound-absorbing ceilings, transparent partition walls, and “curtain-style” acoustic panels, balancing openness with controlled soundscapes.

Adaptive Design That Evolves With Company Needs

Flexibility is embedded throughout the spatial layout. Before and after meal times, the dining area transforms into an open collaboration zone. Through Terna’s workplace reservation platform, T-Place, employees can book rooms, desks, or open workstations.

The bar area is expanded into a secondary informal work setting, creating additional micro-environments for conversation, idea-sharing, and informal meetings. Lounge clusters and island counters support spontaneous exchanges, reinforcing a culture of collaboration.

Circular Design Through Custom-Made Elements

Plastiz, an Italian startup specializing in recycling plastic waste, supplied key custom elements including: • Reception desks • Bar counters • Tech bar • Café stations

These bespoke features not only reduce environmental impact but also establish a cohesive design identity through durable, expressive surfaces with natural-like veining.

A Headquarters for the Future

The Terna Headquarters renovation stands as a model for future-ready corporate design, combining sustainability, flexibility, and human-centered thinking. Through strategic material choices, adaptable environments, and a commitment to circular innovation, IT'S Studio and eFM have created a workplace that aligns physical spaces with evolving organizational culture.

All photographs are works of  Eller Studio