BOLOGNAFIERE: WORK BEGINS ON THE NEW MULTI-PURPOSE HALL DESIGNED BY MCA - MARIO CUCINELLA ARCHITECTS

Bologna, 25 June 2025

With the demolition of the former Hall 35 in Viale della Fiera, construction has officially begun on the new multi-purpose hall designed by MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects. An iconic, sustainable landmark, it will host major international trade fairs, sports events, and shows.

An investment of over €70 million sees BolognaFiere take another important step in the upgrading of its exhibition centre, a process started in 2016 with the demolition of Halls 29 and 30, and the construction of Halls 28, 29 and 30 (the new hall next to Palazzo dei Congressi, home to the Teatro Comunale Nouveau), and Hall 37, a multi-purpose facility with a retractable roof.

With this huge new investment, BolognaFiere Group - sector leader since 2024 with a turnover of €274.1 million and an EBITDA of €44 million - is on target to reach its goal of 140,000 m² net exhibition space, an achievement that will enable it to host an even more prestigious EIMA.

With a surface area of 12,000 m² and height of 25 m, the new hall will have a capacity of approximately 10,500. A modular, flexible, energy-efficient structure, it will host international trade fairs like Eima, Cersaie and Cosmoprof, international conferences, high-profile sports events – such as the Virtus Segafredo Zanetti championship and EuroLeague matches, and the Davis Cup finals – as well as major concerts and shows.

Built on the site of Hall 35, the new hall will be strategically located between Piazza Aldo Moro – the area connecting the city centre and the new TEK district – and Viale della Fiera. Easily accessible, it will be on to the city’s main public transport routes, including the future red tram line, and close to main roads, the ring road and motorway.

An easy-to-access pedestrian entrance will be available on Via Aldo Moro, while an iconic façade facing Viale della Fiera will clearly signpost the new hall.

The project stands out for its spectacular volume and dynamic façade, which at night will transform the building into a huge urban lantern able to project content and communicate events. Versatility is the hallmark of the whole project. Mobile telescopic grandstands, integrated services and reconfigurable spaces will allow quick turnaround to meet the requirements of exhibitions, conferences, sports events and shows.

VIP spaces, such as a sky terrace and hospitality areas, will cater for a broadly diverse audience.

The project is designed by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, an internationally acclaimed architecture firm. Known for its commitment to sustainable innovation and urban quality, the practice has offices in Bologna and Milan and a team of over 100 professionals. ARUP Italia and IM.TECH also partnered the project design.

Construction will be carried out by a temporary association of companies headed by STRABAG, CIMOLAI and CEFLA, while the executive design will be handled by Open Project, Studio Ceccoli, Maffeis Engineering and Esa Engineering.

“With this project, BolognaFiere is investing in a whole new vision of exhibition and urban space, strengthening its ties with the city and opening up new opportunities to attract even more events of international reach,” commented Gianpiero Calzolari, BolognaFiere President. “The new hall will be a true stage for trade shows, cultural and sports events, generating value for both the local area and the entire exhibition and business system.”

The new hall further confirms BolognaFiere as a major player on the European exhibition market making available state-of-the-art infrastructure serving the exhibition business but also the city and country as a whole.