In 1949, the Municipality of Milan granted Ri.C.E. (Ricostruzione Comparti Edilizi) a permit to construct "a multi-storey mixed-use building for commercial and residential purposes" on a redeveloped public land site devastated by heavy Anglo-American bombing during World War II. Lead by BBPR (Gian Luigi Banfi, Lodovico Barbiano di Belgiojoso, Enrico Peressutti,
Ernesto Nathan Rogers), the tower's design studies started in 1950, in collaboration with the Turin-based engineer Arturo Danusso. Immediatly directed towards creating a new symbol of Milan's post-war dynamism, the envisioned project was a skyscraper entirely built in steel and glass. Due to the high cost of the material and the national production capacity of the time, this initial proposal was abandoned; BBPR instead opted for a
reinforced concrete structure with
stone cladding. This solution reduced costs by the quarter and was better suited for the city's architectural context. Between 1952 and 1955, the building’s final design was completed and approved by the client. The tower was executed between 1956 and 1957. Construction lasted 292 days, concluding eight days ahead of schedule. == Reception and criticism ==