New GAMeC Museum in Bergamo to Retrofit Sports Arena

Bergamo will get a new contemporary art museum, GAMeC (Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea), through the retrofit of an existing sports arena. The winning design by C+S studio (Carlo Cappai and Maria Alessandra Segantini) preserves the elliptical concrete structure built in the 1960s, demolishing only the internal grandstands. The project, termed 'retrofit,' adds new technologies and functions to extend the building's life. A translucent polycarbonate box inserted at the center houses exhibition spaces, while a panoramic terrace offers views of Bergamo. The upper volume features a curved zinc-coated steel lantern containing a bar/restaurant. The foyer extends outward for recreational and commercial activities. Interior walls retain original brick and concrete finishes. The project cost is approximately €18 million, with €6 million from Italy's PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and €6 million from Fondazione UBI Banca Popolare. Total surface area will triple from 2,200 to nearly 6,000 square meters. Construction was set to begin in spring 2023 after the 2022 sports season. The museum is currently directed by art historian Lorenzo Giusti. The design emphasizes memory and community identity, avoiding demolition. The definitive project was approved by the municipality on August 5, 2022.