Healthcare Facilities for Milan-Cortina 2026
On the occasion of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Politecnico di Milano and Niguarda Hospital have collaborated on the development of an innovative healthcare model capable of responding efficiently to the clinical and care needs of the event and leaving a lasting legacy for the local area.
The collaboration is based on the activities of the OffLab Niguarda, a research centre operating since 2024 and dedicated to the integrated design of healthcare services, patient flow organisation and the transformation of the built environment. The laboratory operates under the scientific direction of Stefano Capolongo (Politecnico di Milano, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering) and Alberto Zoli (General Manager of Niguarda Hospital).
A healthcare model based on the Hub-and-Spoke approach has been developed for Milan-Cortina 2026: Niguarda Hospital acts as the hub for the management of highly complex activities, supported by three territorial spokes – Porta Romana (Milano Olympic Village), Livigno and Bormio – designed with the contribution of OffLab. The facilities, built with flexible and reconfigurable prefabricated modules, accommodated multi-specialist clinics, emergency rooms, diagnostic areas and observation areas, ensuring continuity and timeliness in the care of athletes and staff.
Livigno Polyclinic
A 330 m² modular structure supporting the existing health centre, with triage, a shock room, clinics and observation areas, located a few metres from the helipad for rapid transfers to the hub. Designed to blend into the mountain environment, it uses wood cladding and meets the requirements of flexibility, reversibility and planned dismantling for easier future conversion.
Bormio Polyclinic
A temporary 550 m² facility consisting of reconfigurable prefabricated modules, with an emergency area, clinics, portable radiology, dentistry, physiotherapy and a medication distribution area. Designed to maximise patient flow and response times, it can be relocated after the event within the Niguarda Hospital campus, or to other contexts that require the rapid construction of social and healthcare pavilions, even in emergency situations.
Porta Romana Polyclinic
A 640 m² modular structure serving the Olympic Village, with an emergency area, eight clinics, blood sampling areas and basic diagnostic services closely linked to the Niguarda hub. The internal organisation and design of the building facilitate accessibility, clear pathways and post-event reuse in other social and healthcare contexts.
The ultimate goal is to transform the investment associated with the sporting event into a permanent asset for the regional healthcare system, and the facilities themselves into healthcare centres integrated into the local area.
Stefano Capolongo, scientific director of the project