Pollini studied in Milan for a couple of years at the faculty of engineering and later architecture where he graduated in 1927. He was writing series of articles published in the journal "Italian Festival" in order to highlight the need for renewal of architectural practice then still tied to the neo-classicists. He formed in 1926 Gruppo 7 that consists of undergraduates in architecture, marked the official beginning of rationalism in Italy. Among the members of the Milan group Luigi Figini, a friend and partner in all his professional life.

A decisive moment for the professional career was meeting Adriano Olivetti who gave him the task to achieve in 1934 the Officine Ivrea, in 1940 the company canteen, in 1941 the kindergarten, in 1942 the houses for employees. In the same year he worked with Giuseppe Terragni and Pietro Lingeri , a historic project for the district of Brera in Milan. After the war he was a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture in Milan, then to Palermo.