RIMOND has always been carrying out intense research and development activity for years as Innovation and Study are a founding element of its entrepreneurial activity and RIMOND LAB is the expression of this natural vocation.
The LAB was born with the aim of bridging the RIMOND group with the international Research and Innovation scenario to support RIMOND in playing a decisive role for the Net Zero Industry and generating a positive impact in the built environment.
INNOVATION LAB finds roots in Academia and experimental laboratories, and always acted as a research to practice environment. Since its launch, it has served as a catalyst for numerous new partnerships, collaborations, and research projects that have brought tangible benefits to both private and public stakeholders, leveraging direct and indirect advantages at the community level in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our academic staff, PhD students, and research associates collaborate with international academic and industry partners, providing RIMOND and its clients access to the brightest minds and evidence-based research to address the challenges of the near future.
Stefano Ciprigno
Stefano Ciprigno, licensed engineer, is the head of the MEP Department at RIMOND and is a Senior Technical Researcher on the topics of energy generation, saving and monitoring. He provides advice and coordinates studies across the company and has a unique capacity to integrate abstract topics and practical issues. For example, he combines simulation and BIM methods to connect performance calculations with actual installation constraints, thereby guaranteeing site efficiency and achieving the design intent. He provided advice on the actual performance of custom-designed components during research projects such as Smart Living (O&M Digital Twin), REZBUILD (Custom BIPV and BAPV), and REDREAM (energy communities).
Lorenzo Pirone
Lorenzo Pirone, Architect and Digital Design Specialist, is a Senior Technical Researcher at RIMOND. He works on digital tools aimed at integrating different issues – namely, structural systems and fabrication constraints – into the design and manufacturing of unique architectural components. He recently oversaw the engineering and design integration for the Al Wasl Plaza at Expo 2020, the 60m high dome which was the core of the exhibition in Dubai and the world’s largest projection surface. He also managed the design-to-fabrication stream of custom components for research projects REZBUILD and REDREAM (PV integration) and Solar Decathlon (Thermodynamic parapet and lightweight textile PV).
Supporting the clean energy transition of European business parks, the initiative promotes energy collaboration among companies through innovative, knowledge-based tools. These solutions unlock the potential for cooperative energy strategies, enabling the creation of energy communities, improving flexibility, and reducing fossil fuel dependence and carbon emissions. The project also attracts institutional investors for complex renewable energy investments and contributes to the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goals. With pilot activities in Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, it will mobilize nearly €7 million in sustainable energy investments, generating 11 GWh/year of renewable energy, 2.3 GWh/year in energy savings, and reducing emissions by 2,000 tons of CO₂ per year. Within five years after completion, the initiative targets 20+ business parks, 64 GWh/year of clean energy production, and €38 million in green investments.
RIMOND is the project coordinator involving the Impact Advisory Hub for the standardization of financing tools and contractual framework in synergy with GENERA (Energy Service Company). The economic and financial assessment of energy communities in 3 industrial parks located in Belgium, Spain and Portugal will allow to scale up energy communities all over the EU.
Status: Ongoing
Project lead: Annarita Giacovelli annarita.giacovelli@rimond.com
Aiming to create a positive social impact in neighborhoods, the initiative validates a co-creation methodology to support decision-making in regeneration processes. It focuses on 6 pilot sites across Europe: Langreo (ES), Plovdiv (BG), Massagno (CH), Murcia (ES), Orte (IT), and Paris (FR), where 21 Regeneration Actions will be implemented. A digital toolkit will be developed to assist in the planning, execution, and operation of these actions, comprising 13 digital solutions organized into four thematic blocks: Energy, Renovation, Resources, and Mobility. The project will also define long-term strategies for cooperative models of neighborhood regeneration and generate 14 key exploitable results to ensure continued impact beyond the project’s duration.
RIMOND as Green Neighbourhood Facilitator is committed to transforming the Municipality of Orte by leading a demonstration action focused on two main initiatives: co-designing district regeneration through building retrofitting and promoting sustainable mobility solutions. Finally RIMOND is guiding the Biodistretto della Via Amerina e delle Forre towards the definition of a unique Sustainability, Energy and Action Plan (PAESC) for the whole territory that embraces 13 Municipalities (including Orte Municipalities)
Status: Ongoing
Project lead: Giulia Verghini giulia.verghini@rimond.com
The building sector significantly emits greenhouse gasses, necessitating innovative decarbonisation solutions. The EU-funded SIRCULAR project aims to revolutionize construction by adopting sustainable, low-carbon practices. Its main goal is to cut emissions by reducing new materials and promoting eco-friendly alternatives, including recycled and deconstructed components. The project involves local authorities and the social housing sector in these efforts. A key feature is a digital decision support system to help professionals and authorities make eco-friendly choices throughout construction. This approach will be tested in renovation sites in Spain and Estonia and follower sites in Germany and Greece. Aligned with the Built4People Partnership, the project includes life cycle assessments, sustainable deconstruction, re-use solutions, and low-carbon techniques.
RIMOND is playing the role of Financial Advisor involving the Impact Advisory Hub for the creation of a De-Risking Tool supporting investments in the circular construction industry. Proving Market analysis and tools for the positioning of the clean and circular solution packages related to the Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). Countries covered are Estonia, Spain, Germany and Greece.
Status: Ongoing
Project lead: Chiara Dognini Chiara Dognini@rimond.com
A new co-designed methodological framework is being developed and tested to support cities in transforming their built environments toward decarbonization. Building on existing best practices and aligned with the New European Bauhaus and EU Missions principles, the initiative is being implemented in seven Lighthouse demonstrators across Europe. The approach integrates citizen engagement, empowering communities in decision-making; innovative financing schemes involving local businesses; the use of digital and green technologies; and sustainable architectural design and materials that respect cultural heritage. It also includes the use of arts and creative co-design in third-sector buildings and public spaces to foster inclusive, climate-resilient urban regeneration.
RIMOND Impact Advisory Hub leads the Economic and Financial Strategy of seven integrated projects of neighborhood regeneration. RIMOND is Project Manager and Technical Advisor of the implementation in Nepi Municipality in collaboration with the Biodistretto della Via Amerina e delle Forre, leading the co-design activity for the energy retrofit of some buildings and the set up of local energy communities
Status: Ongoing
Project lead: Gabriele Roselli gabriele.roselli@rimond.com
Offering tools to optimize the carbon footprint and energy performance of historic buildings, the initiative leverages innovative restoration materials, energy harvesting technologies, and ICT solutions. It also aims to raise awareness and empower communities across Europe to embrace the preservation of cultural heritage through cultural and community engagement activities at both national and international levels.
RIMOND advice on the digitalization process of the historic buildings guiding on the realization of BIM models through guidelines and specifications. RIMOND will also support the development of the Digital Twins of the historic buildings guaranteeing the quality of data input from the BIM models.
Status: Ongoing
Project lead: Lorenzo Pirone lorenzo.pirone@rimond.com
The initiative enabled effective participation of consumers and prosumers in the energy market by delivering a strategy to create a value generation chain based on a revolutionary, service-dominant logic paradigm. It collected demand response tools and energy/non-energy services that empower consumers to actively engage in the energy market. The project facilitated the establishment of energy communities in Italy, the UK, Spain, and Croatia.
RIMOND has been responsible for the delivery of gamification tools and non-energy services related to comfort. It has also developed the ReDREAM interfaces and the energy social network.
Project lead: Hamed Abbasi hamed.abbasi@rimond.com
A refurbishment ecosystem was developed to enable deep NZEB renovation across various residential building typologies, interconnecting renovation stages and stakeholders throughout the process. This methodology was implemented in three completed pilot interventions in Italy, Norway, and Spain, and its effectiveness was measured through three key performance indicators: a 60% reduction in primary energy use, a 30% reduction in installation time, and a return on investment (ROI) achieved in just 12 years.
RIMOND has led the design of the 3 demonstration sites converting the buildings into NZEBs
Project lead: Stefano Ciprigno stefano.ciprigno@rimond.com
This research was conducted by members of RIMOND team in the research consortium coordinated by Roma Tre University and consisting of researchers and technology providers. The aim was to design, engineer, assemble, and drive prototypes of high-performance ZEB/energy positive residential units. The projects were awarded in the 2012 and 2014 editions of the competition and included the development of innovative interfaces for energy related digital twins.
This research was conducted under a grant by the Italian region of Lombardy for the development of innovative digital systems for the facilities management (FM) of complex healthcare buildings. The research produced an innovative digital twin interface that was used as a bridge between FM standard software and Open BIM models, published in a shared, web-based environment. The research provided an integrated system based on a new organizational model and aligned to the needs of the client’s facility manager.
RIMOND developed the “Rimond Hub”, a software service based on Open BIM technology. It provides an environment for comprehensive facility management that integrates the entire process, including documentation, maintenance, IoT data-hosting, and building occupancy regulations.
RIMOND can fabricate concrete panels from custom moulds at our dedicated facility. The single panel production can also be integrated into larger, off-site building components – including glazing and insulation – for a complete cellular façade renewal or refurbishment.
Authors: Tonelli C., Converso S. (2014)
Article on the digital twin system developed for monitoring the performance of the ZEB home prototype, designed for the international competition Solar Decathlon 2012.
Published in: Energy and Buildings, Vol. ENB5008, ENB-D-14-00023
ISSN: 0378-7788 | DOI
Authors: Tonelli C., Converso S. (2015)
Paper presented at the Advanced Building Skins scientific conference, based on the experience of a façade panel for building refurbishment. The goal was to enhance energy efficiency by integrating a thermodynamic panel that combines passive and active strategies.
Published in: Advanced Building Skins, pp. 161–169
Publisher: Economic Forum, Munich
ISBN: 978-3-98120538-1 | Event: Bern, Switzerland – November 3–4, 2015
Authors: Converso S., Tonelli C., Bellingeri G.
This paper presents a strategy to involve users in energy management, demonstrated through the home prototype developed with Roma Tre University for the Solar Decathlon 2012.
Published in: EAAE Transactions on Architectural Education, No. 61, 2013
Client: INWIT – ICT Wireless Infrastructure National Provider
An Open BIM platform for managing over 18,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). The system enables validation, data extraction, and insertion into locally sourced BIM models, then integrated into a national shared database representing a digital twin of the asset portfolio. It is now used daily for maintenance and client acquisition.
By bringing together the brightest minds to solve some of the industry’s toughest problems, we can help drive change throughout the sector. To do this, we partner with leading universities for our research, as well as collaborate with experts and R&D departments of different specialist suppliers to produce innovative building products, services, and systems.
