Following an international competition that featured 27 groups comprised of 71 studios from nine different countries, SOM has been selected to design the Olympic Village for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The new Olympic Village will transform the Porta Romana district, creating a sustainable urban community and offer a new model for Olympic facilities to serve post-Olympic social goals. The village encompasses a set of public green spaces, the transformation of two historic structures, and six new mass timber residential buildings that will serve Olympic athletes in the short term.
After the Olympics, the athletes homes will be reused for student housing; the park and railway side buildings near the Olympic Square will be used for affordable housing; and the Olympic Village Plaza will become a neighborhood square with shops, bars, restaurants, and cafes planned at street level, along with outdoor space for farmers’ markets and other community events.
“Rather than ceasing to be of use after the Olympics, the Porta Romana Olympic Village will ultimately become a vibrant, self-sustaining neighborhood built around the principles of social equity, environmental commitment, wellness, and inclusivity,” said SOM Design Partner Colin Koop, in a release. “The village adopts the rhythm of the area’s streetscape, creating a porous urban block with a variety of public spaces and communal anchors that will enhance Milan’s vibrant tapestry of ground floor experiences.”
The new buildings take architectural inspiration from the historic buildings of Milan, featuring contemporary materials and communal terraces. Shaded by vertical plantings, these terraces serve as bridges between the buildings, becoming signature gathering spaces and outdoor study rooms for students. The integration of greenery within the outdoor areas will contribute to the neighborhood’s climate resilience while also creating space for urban farms that enable on-site for production.
The village’s mechanical systems will tie in to the precinct’s loops, with passive cooling strategies, solar panels, and rooftop gardens ensuring more than 30% of the energy used will be produced on site. Stormwater will be collected on site and reused, with a reduction in the use of drinking water by 50% and CO2 reduction of 40% for heating and cooling. The village will target minimal environmental impact in accordance with Nearly Zero Energy Building requirements.
Construction of the Olympic Village is slated to be completed by July 2025.
Related Stories
| Jun 4, 2013
SOM research project examines viability of timber-framed skyscraper
In a report released today, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill discussed the results of the Timber Tower Research Project: an examination of whether a viable 400-ft, 42-story building could be created with timber framing. The structural type could reduce the carbon footprint of tall buildings by up to 75%.
| Apr 30, 2013
First look: North America's tallest wooden building
The Wood Innovation Design Center (WIDC), Prince George, British Columbia, will exhibit wood as a sustainable building material widely availablearound the globe, and aims to improve the local lumber economy while standing as a testament to new construction possibilities.
| Mar 3, 2013
Hines acquires Archstone's interest in $700 million CityCenterDC project
The Washington D.C. office of Hines, the international real estate firm, announced the acquisition of the ownership interest of their partner, Archstone, in the mixed-use CityCenterDC project that is currently under construction in downtown Washington, D.C.
| Feb 17, 2013
Pakistan to get world's tallest tower in $45 billion deal
Newly signed mega deal will fund construction of several massive developments in Karachi, including a mixed-use tower that will dwarf the Burj Khalifa.
| Jul 12, 2012
EE&K and Knutson Construction selected for the Interchange in Minneapolis
Design-build contract for $79.3 million transportation hub will connect transit with culture.
| Jul 2, 2012
Bernards building mixed-use project in Beverly Hills
The project includes 88 luxury apartment homes atop a 14,000-sf Trader Joe’s market and a new coffee shop.
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.