The rebirth of Cantù Arena: a project by MMA Projects

MMA Projects, a renowned international architectural studio, presents the design of the new "Cantù Arena" in collaboration with national and international firms. The new Arena arises as a symbol of rebirth and modernity, a reference point for the city of Cantù and the entire Lombardy region.

Located a short distance from the city center and directly connected to major roadways and a nearby shopping center, the facility spans a total area of 27,910 square meters. This new sports and multifunctional complex has been designed to meet the needs of a dynamic community, offering a place where sports, entertainment, and culture come together. The project represents a prime example of contemporary architecture applied to a multifunctional space. With a capacity of over 5,200 seats and a complementary training field, the Arena aims to enhance the region by providing a wide variety of services to the community, promoting sports among the citizens of Cantù and neighboring municipalities. The Arena will indeed become a meeting point, a place for aggregation, and a social landmark. Furthermore, the project aims to provide Pallacanestro Cantù and its fans with a venue worthy of their history.

The Arena will feature various scenarios aimed at enhancing its multifunctionality. It will host, in addition to basketball games, conventions, performances, fairs, concerts, various indoor sports events, and social activities of all kinds, as well as an ice rink, thanks to the latest modifications.

From the pyramid to the octagon

The new sports facility will rise on the site that, in the early '90s, hosted the construction site of PalaBabele, one of Italy's most emblematic unfinished works, designed by architect Vittorio Gregotti. The structure was conceived as a pyramid with an intended capacity of 7,300 spectators. However, construction was halted in 1993 due to cost increases, and the building was finally demolished in July 2010. Between 2010 and 2012, the Brescia-based company Turra Costruzioni started the construction of a new sports arena with 7,000 seats, called PalaTurra. However, financial difficulties led to the abandonment of the project, leaving some reinforced concrete parts in a state of degradation. These remnants, unused for over a decade, were demolished and crushed in the spring of 2024 with the aim of recovering materials for the construction of the new structure, giving them new value and dignity.

Architectural Design

The design of the Arena is inspired by the geometry of the octagon, a shape rich in symbolism that evokes strength, rebirth, and perfection. The main body of the Arena, beyond providing solidity and versatility, creates an aesthetic balance between tradition and modernity. This design choice is not casual: the octagon is a shape historically used in architecture to represent eternity, as seen in medieval baptisteries, and it also offers significant structural advantages, allowing for uniform load distribution and greater efficiency in internal spaces. The structure has been conceived to harmoniously integrate with the surrounding urban landscape, reducing visual impact through a glass façade that reflects the external context during the day, while the internal lighting creates a transparency effect in the evening.

Materials Used

The selection of materials was carefully studied to ensure functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics. Great attention was given to minimizing the overall carbon footprint by prioritizing easily recyclable materials, emphasizing the principles of a circular economy, and, where possible, using recycled materials. This includes materials sourced from the planned demolition of the reinforced concrete structures of the old building. This approach allowed for the reuse of materials for backfilling and leveling the foundation levels of the new construction, thereby eliminating the need for new materials and reducing the energy consumption associated with their production and transportation.

Facade Hospitality Area

The external façade will be made of composite aluminum panels, chosen for their lightness, weather resistance, thermal-acoustic performance, and chromatic customization possibilities. A good example of this is the hospitality area, attached to the main body of the Arena, featuring an alternation of matte and glossy surfaces, creating a play of light that changes throughout the day, giving the building a dynamic feel.

Kinetic Facade

The kinetic façade, designed by Denvelops for the new Cantù Arena, represents an interesting integration of design, sustainability, and energy efficiency. This façade is composed of hybrid "texTILES," modular panels that move and adapt to environmental conditions, such as wind and sunlight. These modular elements are not only customizable in materials and design but also designed to respond dynamically, giving the façade a lively and interactive appearance.

Structure and Roofing

The choice of steel as the primary material for the structure is essential to achieve a wide, unobstructed roof. The supporting structures are a mix of reinforced concrete and structural steel, ensuring stability, durability, and seismic resistance. The roofing is made from a sandwich panel system of galvanized steel, coated with heat-resistant materials, equipped with sound-absorbing membranes—an innovative material combining lightness, transparency, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. This system ensures a high level of energy sustainability while maintaining excellent physical-mechanical performance and optimal flexibility, especially in combination with the 190 kWp photovoltaic system on the roof.

The roof beams, exceeding 66 meters in length, are a key element to ensure optimal visibility from all angles. Steel also provides significant resistance, minimizing the structure’s weight and expanding usable space, both for spectators and athletes. For the floors in the common areas and playing field, materials such as technical wood parquet were selected to ensure high sports performance, and porcelain stoneware was chosen for high-traffic areas due to its resistance and ease of maintenance.

Sustainability and Environmental Integration

The design integrates eco-friendly solutions to reduce the environmental impact. The facility is equipped with a photovoltaic system for clean energy production and a rainwater recycling system, which will be stored and used for irrigating the surrounding green spaces. As mentioned earlier, all materials used in construction are recycled and recyclable to minimize the overall carbon footprint.

Project name: Cantù Arena

Location: Cantù, Como, Italia

Year: In progress

Client: M Partners Sas

Consultants: Mens. Teknolab & Design, Schinetti G.,Redaelli & Associati, Studio Luoni, Studio Gerosa, ASM Global.

Services: Architectural Design

Site Area: 27.910 sqm

Floor Area: 16.990 sqm