Stazione Leopolda, Italy

The Stazione Leopolda in Florence is a huge and impressive structure, and the only one of its kind in Italy that hosts events related to contemporary culture and creativity. Stazione Leopolda srl is the company that organizes and sponsors the activities and business of the Stazione Leopolda. The management program plans on developing the site's huge potential for presenting the most innovative and high quality creative events. Stazione Leopolda srl was founded by Pitti Immagine srl - the corporation that organizes the world's most important fashion-oriented trade fairs. Its aim is to apply its widely acknowledged planning and operational abilities, as well as the huge range of important contacts it has with corporations, institutions and individuals throughout the world that are involved in cultural research to this new entity. The building offers a gross covered area of 6,000 square meters in two main sections, the Stazione Leopolda proper and the new Alcatraz section. The Stazione Leopolda is practically a single "room" beneath a metal roof divided into two 15 meter wide sections that are 140 and 100 meters long, respectively; ceiling height averages 7.5 meters and at the end point it exceeds 12 meters. The 1,100 square meter forecourt outside the building was remodeled by Gae Aulenti in 1996. The Alcatraz section is a former warehouse, annexed to the station. It is a two-story building with roughly 1,500 square meters of floor space. The ground floor comprises a central portion of 500 sq. meters that leads to a series of rooms - each with windows - totaling 280 sq. m.. The two upper levels comprise a rectangular gallery - 250 sq. m. per story characterized by prefabricated reinforced concrete shelving once used to store hardware. On the first floor, in addition to the gallery there are rooms - with windows like those on the ground floor - totaling 280 square meters. The Stazione Leopolda is equipped with all the essential - and most modern - fair-exhibition facilities and its expert staff can satisfy any technical and organizational needs.