david chipperfield's arena milano prepares for the 2026 winter olympics

david chipperfield’s 16,000-seat civic arena for milan

New images reveal David Chipperfield Architects‘ Arena Milano, the centerpiece of the Santa Giulia redevelopment in south-east Milan, delivering a 16,000-seat venue designed to host sports, concerts, and major cultural events, including the Winter Olympic Games in February, 2026 (find designboom’s previous coverage here). Developed in collaboration with Arup, the arena translates the elliptical geometry of Milan’s ancient Roman amphitheater into a contemporary civic building, anchoring a new district just a few kilometers from the city center and directly connected to high-speed rail and motorway infrastructure.

all images by Noshe

a contemporary amphitheatre for a new district

Set within Milano Santa Giulia, one of the city’s most ambitious regeneration projects, the arena is conceived as an urban condenser. Through its elliptical form, the team at David Chipperfield Architects references historical precedents while accommodating the demands of large-scale events, from international concerts to sporting tournaments. Outside event hours, the project extends its role beyond spectacle, opening its surrounding outdoor spaces to everyday use by residents and visitors from across Milan.

The building sits on a vast raised podium that occupies almost the entire site, slightly rotated to address arrivals from the west. A broad flight of steps draws visitors upward, culminating in a 10,000-square-meter piazza that functions as an extension of the public realm. This elevated platform is not only an entry sequence but also an event space in its own right, capable of hosting outdoor gatherings independently of the arena’s internal program.

the arena is organized around a parterre level topped by two seating tiers

floating rings and material contrast

Above the podium, three concentric rings of increasing height wrap the arena, appearing to float one above the other. Their metallic skin is formed by shimmering aluminum tubes that shift with daylight, while integrated LED strips transform the building into a large-scale media surface after dark. This precise, industrial materiality is deliberately offset by landscaped elements: trees and planting spill down the stepped podium, softening the mass of the structure and introducing a hilly, green counterpoint to its monolithic base.

The arena is organized around a parterre level topped by two seating tiers, with an upper level dedicated to lounges and sky boxes. Circulation is handled through generous lobbies at every level, ensuring clear access to seating, catering, and service facilities. Parking is accommodated discreetly within the podium itself and in a separate multi-story car park to the north, keeping the surrounding public spaces largely free of vehicular congestion.

Environmental performance is addressed through a combination of resource-efficient strategies and on-site energy production. Photovoltaic systems integrated into the roof are designed to cover a significant portion of the building’s energy needs, contributing to reduced CO₂ emissions over their lifecycle. By remaining active outside ticketed events, the arena is positioned as a permanent piece of civic infrastructure rather than a single-purpose venue.

the arena translates the elliptical geometry of Milan’s ancient Roman amphitheater