Milan's Olympic Village to Become Student Housing for 1,700 Post-Games

Milan has taken a groundbreaking approach to its Olympic Village for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, ensuring the site will serve a long-term purpose after the athletes leave. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in collaboration with Italian developer COIMA, the complex in the Porta Romana district was built with its post-Olympic role as student housing integrated into the initial plans. This forward-thinking strategy avoids the common challenge of repurposing Olympic infrastructure.

A Dual-Purpose Design from the Start
The Olympic Village, located on a former 19th-century railway yard, will host 1,300 athletes during the Games in February 2026. By September of the same year, the same six residential buildings will reopen as Italy's largest affordable student housing complex, offering 1,700 beds in time for the academic year. The four-month conversion timeline is possible because the buildings were designed for dual use from the outset, eliminating the need for extensive retrofitting.

COIMA's founder and CEO, Manfredi Catella, emphasized that the project was conceived with its eventual transformation in mind, with spaces, functions, and materials chosen to serve both athletes and students effectively. This approach marks a departure from the typical Olympic pattern, where legacy planning often begins only after the Games conclude.

Sustainable Design and Construction
The completed complex combines six newly constructed mass timber residential buildings with two restored historic structures, including the former Squadra Rialzo locomotive workshop. The development spans approximately 53,380 square metres of gross building area and incorporates 40,000 square metres of green space. SOM's design draws inspiration from Milan's architectural heritage without directly imitating it. Construction began in January 2023 and was completed ahead of schedule, with the buildings handed over to the Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.

Affordable Housing for Students
Once converted, the Village will provide around 1,700 student housing units, with approximately 30% offered at subsidized rents. The project has already qualified for funding under an Italian Ministry of Universities and Research initiative, which could help reduce rents for up to 12 years. This focus on affordability aligns with Milan's broader goals for sustainable urban development.

A New Model for Olympic Legacy
Milan's approach addresses the long-standing issue of underutilized Olympic infrastructure, seen in cities like Athens and Rio de Janeiro. By treating the Games as a funding mechanism and deadline rather than the project's ultimate purpose, the city has created a model for sustainable Olympic development. Both COIMA and SOM have highlighted the project as a benchmark for sustainability, not only in environmental terms but also in its enduring value to the community.

Part of a Larger Urban Vision
The Olympic Village is just the first phase of a broader redevelopment plan for the Porta Romana district. The Scalo di Porta Romana urban regeneration project aims to deliver approximately 105,000 square metres of residential buildings, with half designated as affordable housing, alongside new commercial spaces and public gardens. After the conversion, the Olympic Village Plaza will become a neighborhood square with shops, restaurants, and cafés, while surrounding areas will provide additional affordable housing.

By embedding long-term utility into its Olympic Village design, Milan has set a precedent for how host cities can create lasting value from their investments, ensuring the site remains a vibrant part of the community for years to come.