This summer will see the inauguration of the revamped Genoa Sports Palace, which Renzo Piano has overseen as part of the larger urban project for the city’s Waterfront Levante. The sports arena in Piazzale Kennedy is undergoing significant structural interventions, as it had become an unusable ruin, as described by Massimo Moretti, CEO of Cds, the group implementing the project.

Renzo Piano Building Workshop accepted the task of redesigning the project with almost a fresh start. Additionally, the proposal had to meet both the municipality’s and the Italian National Olympic Committee’s (CONI) requirements. This led to some delays in the process, owing to the presentation of ongoing changes, adverse weather events that severely affected the city in recent months, and a substantial increase in the cost of raw materials.

The sports palace aims to become a contemporary infrastructure, characterized by innovative lighting, high accessibility, and inclusivity through the removal of architectural barriers, and quality acoustics. The latter involves an audio system directly connected to the devices of visually impaired individuals. There will also be a strong focus on visuals, with curved screens running all around the arena. The idea is to provide an experience capable of fully embracing the emotions associated with sports.