LUMSA University Opens New Campus Near Vatican in Rome

On Friday, December 16, the board of LUMSA University inaugurated its new campus, the Nuovo Complesso Giubileo, located in the triangle between St. Peter's Basilica, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Lungotevere in Rome. The project, led by architect Giuseppe Manara's studio with offices in Rome and Milan, involved engineers Maurizio Russo (LUMSA technical director) and Mario Di Paola (University of Palermo). Over 600 archaeological finds were discovered during foundation consolidation, including a Roman imperial wall now at the base of the new library. The central library, dedicated to Giorgio Petrocchi, houses over 150,000 volumes with 206 seats across six floors, featuring a quadruple-height hall with curved balconies and a glass rhomboid screen. The campus includes residences for up to 40 students, administrative offices, a cafeteria, a panoramic terrace, common spaces, and a gym. Rector Francesco Bonini stated that the architectural design followed a logic of consolidating the existing while integrating modern architecture into a historically significant context.