On Thursday, 29 January, FERROVIENORD finalised the transfer of ownership of the former Bernardino Luini school in Saronno, located behind the railway station, to Saronno Città dei Beni Comuni, a company involved in the urban regeneration process for the former Isotta Fraschini site, as set out in the Integrated Intervention Plan adopted by the City Council on 22 December 2025.
The transfer of ownership, announced and awaited for years, has finally become a reality following this administrative step, which was necessary to formalise agreements that had been in place for some time. Saronno Città dei Beni Comuni is therefore now the definitive owner of the building and the square in front of it.
“The regeneration of FERROVIENORD’s facilities in the Saronno hub, planned as part of the FILI project, is transforming this part of the city, fostering the emergence of new urban, commercial and social initiatives through a positive ‘trigger effect’ and mutual interaction, thereby generating value for the entire area,” commented Andrea Gibelli, Chairman of FNM. “The activities currently under way at the former Isotta Fraschini site will certainly integrate seamlessly with the increasingly sustainable and accessible services and facilities we are developing in Saronno, to the benefit of all citizens and travellers.”
“The agreement reached with Saronno Città dei Beni Comuni makes it possible to restore the former Bernardino Luini school, an important building precisely because of its location next to Saronno railway station. The project will bring a new educational activity to the site, restoring the building’s original function for the benefit of the entire community,” commented Pier Antonio Rossetti, Chairman of FERROVIENORD. “This initiative builds on the ‘Saronno City Hub’ project launched by FERROVIENORD, which includes station refurbishment and the regeneration of neighbouring areas, as well as the construction of Saronno’s new Technological and Maintenance Infrastructure Hub.”
“The acquisition of the former Bernardino Luini school confirms what public-private cooperation can achieve for the development of the city of Saronno,” explained Giuseppe Gorla, Sole Director of SBC. “It is the result of a dialogue between the parties that has encompassed cultural initiatives, urban planning projects and a coherent vision of a European city. This dialogue and cooperation can be extended in the future to address other critical issues for Saronno relating to transport, mobility and safety. Thanks to this model of collaboration and dialogue, work can now begin to restore the former Bernardino Luini school, which has so far been abandoned, structurally deteriorated and without any functional use.”
THE FORMER BERNARDINO LUINI SCHOOL – Once renovated, the former Bernardino Luini school will be able to resume its original educational function through the establishment of a vocational school and a Higher Technical Institute (ITS). The initiative is being developed in collaboration with Fondazione Daimon, which is overseeing the building’s restoration and its reintegration into Saronno’s social, cultural and educational fabric.
The acquisition of the Bernardino Luini school marks another tangible step forward in the urban regeneration project for the former Isotta Fraschini site. It follows the environmental remediation works, which are nearing completion, the opening of the area for events and the restoration of the historical archives of the former magistrates’ court. Further developments are expected shortly, with the aim of creating the conditions for the school to become one of the first facilities to open and welcome the public, alongside the park, the UAE Team cycling hub and the protected woodland along Via Milano. The project will subsequently be completed with the residential development towards Via Varese.
The project aims to give a new identity to a large, historic part of the city, reconnecting it with the Matteotti district through pedestrian and cycle paths. It also seeks to promote a European vision for Saronno that brings out the city’s considerable potential, offering future generations a better environment and improved opportunities for housing, education and employment.
SARONNO CITY HUB – FERROVIENORD’s “Saronno City Hub” project involves the development of a new Technological and Maintenance Infrastructure Hub, including the redevelopment, rationalisation and reorganisation of the buildings and spaces used for railway operations. The project also includes the regeneration and refurbishment of Saronno Centro station and several surrounding areas, with a series of measures designed to improve passenger safety and accessibility and enhance the various transport connections, including pedestrian routes, cycle paths, railway crossings and car parks.
Work is currently under way within the Technological and Maintenance Infrastructure Hub to prepare for the construction of the Workshop – Building Four. Work on Buildings Three and Two is scheduled to begin in February.
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