The name “Reggiane” is strongly related to the city’s memory and identity. Therefore, through the redevelopment of the abandoned and deprived industrial area of the historic Officine Meccaniche Reggiane, the Innovation Park brings a part of Reggio Emilia back to life.
The area, about 26 hectares close to the railway station and the historical center of Reggio Emilia, in the industrial district of Santa Croce, is the scenario of the economic and social history of Reggio Emilia, an important story, made of massive production, of work, research and great innovations. The definitive abandonment of the workshops in 2008 left this strategic area “suspended”: now it’ s at the core of an innovative urban regeneration intervention, model of a new sustainable economic development, crucial for the future of the city.
A short history of Reggiane: The 'Reggiane' Officine Meccaniche Italiane were established in 1904 to produce rolling stock (freight cars, locomotives, carriages), in 1918 a collaboration in the aeronautical sector was established and eventually, in the thirties, Caproni took over the company, whereby Reggiane became famous for fighter planes production. The Reggiane, which occupied up to 12,000 employees in 1942, were the fourth most important factory in Italy after Fiat, Ansaldo and Breda. In addition to their own models, they build aircrafts and engines on behalf of Siai Marchetti, Piaggio and Fiat. In the post-war period production continued with plants for the sugar industry, locomotives, port cranes, until the sale of the activity and the final closure and the consequent abandonment of the area in 2008.
The urban regeneration of the Reggiane area is part of a wider process of strategic-territorial planning and governance that the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, reacting to the effects of the global crisis, started in 2010. The project involves the entire North Area of the city, a territorial plan based on an economic model that is no longer only based on manufacturing but rather shifting towards the knowledge economy; a plan aiming at boosting the growth of distinctive skills, attraction of knowledge, talents, research and innovation, international exchange of experiences and relationships and at enhancing urban and life quality.
Officine Meccaniche Reggiane are established
Società Aeronautica Caproni acquires property
Reggiane are bombed
Occupation of the factory and workers’ struggles
Production of manufacturing plants for sugar and food industry
Gruppo Fantuzzi acquires property
Plants are transferred to Terex and the production site is close
The regeneration program starts
The Loris Malaguzzi International Center is completed
The Technopole is inaugurated
Opening Ceremony for Shed #18
Reopening of viale Ramazzini
The Innovation Skatepark in inaugurated
Our history
The name “Reggiane” is strongly related to the city’s memory and identity. Therefore, through the redevelopment of the abandoned and deprived industrial area of the historic Officine Meccaniche Reggiane, the Innovation Park brings a part of Reggio Emilia back to life.
The area, about 26 hectares close to the railway station and the historical center of Reggio Emilia, in the industrial district of Santa Croce, is the scenario of the economic and social history of Reggio Emilia, an important story, made of massive production, of work, research and great innovations. The definitive abandonment of the workshops in 2008 left this strategic area “suspended”: now it’ s at the core of an innovative urban regeneration intervention, model of a new sustainable economic development, crucial for the future of the city.
A short history of Reggiane: The 'Reggiane' Officine Meccaniche Italiane were established in 1904 to produce rolling stock (freight cars, locomotives, carriages), in 1918 a collaboration in the aeronautical sector was established and eventually, in the thirties, Caproni took over the company, whereby Reggiane became famous for fighter planes production. The Reggiane, which occupied up to 12,000 employees in 1942, were the fourth most important factory in Italy after Fiat, Ansaldo and Breda. In addition to their own models, they build aircrafts and engines on behalf of Siai Marchetti, Piaggio and Fiat. In the post-war period production continued with plants for the sugar industry, locomotives, port cranes, until the sale of the activity and the final closure and the consequent abandonment of the area in 2008.
The urban regeneration of the Reggiane area is part of a wider process of strategic-territorial planning and governance that the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, reacting to the effects of the global crisis, started in 2010. The project involves the entire North Area of the city, a territorial plan based on an economic model that is no longer only based on manufacturing but rather shifting towards the knowledge economy; a plan aiming at boosting the growth of distinctive skills, attraction of knowledge, talents, research and innovation, international exchange of experiences and relationships and at enhancing urban and life quality.
Officine Meccaniche Reggiane are established
Società Aeronautica Caproni acquires property
Reggiane are bombed
Occupation of the factory and workers’ struggles
Production of manufacturing plants for sugar and food industry
Gruppo Fantuzzi acquires property
Plants are transferred to Terex and the production site is close
The regeneration program starts
The Loris Malaguzzi International Center is completed
The Technopole is inaugurated
Opening Ceremony for Shed #18