The Palazzo della Ragione on Piazza Mercanti was built in 1233 as an administrative building and a judicial seat. A top floor was added during the reign of Maria Theresa of Austria.
After its restoration in the 1980's, it is mostly used for exhibitions. Modern fire regulations dictate that it needed a fire escape in order to accommodate more people. This emergency staircase was added in 2002. Its design must be visually transparent and distinct from its historical setting.
The stair is suspended from a single support column made of stainless steel plates tilted 12.7°. The architect was Marco Dezzi Bardeschi.