OGR Torino converted into field hospital for COVID-19 patients

The OGR (Officine Grandi Riparazioni) cultural hub in Turin, Italy, is being transformed into a temporary field hospital to alleviate pressure on the regional healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made on March 28, 2020, following inspections by the Regional Crisis Unit, the Municipality, the Prefecture of Turin, the CRT Foundation (chaired by Giovanni Quaglia), and the Civil Protection. The Sala delle Fucine will host 100 beds for patients with mild symptoms, freeing up major hospitals for severe cases. The facility, originally a 19th-century train repair workshop and reopened in 2016 as a cultural center, was chosen for its modern infrastructure, including a kitchen and ample space. Regional President Alberto Cirio noted that setting up a field hospital is faster than reactivating old hospitals. OGR Director General Massimo Lapucci stated the institution's commitment to repurposing for public health, echoing a promise to transform for the common good. Similar conversions have occurred at FieraMilano (250 beds) and IFEMA Madrid (5,500 beds). The move reflects a broader trend of cultural spaces being repurposed as emergency medical facilities during the pandemic.