by InTrieste
In a bold move to address the growing demand for educational and recreational spaces, the Regional Government of Friuli Venezia Giulia has approved the development of a major new school and sports complex at the site of the former Vittorio Emanuele III barracks in Trieste. The decision marks a significant step toward revitalizing a historic property and expanding the city’s educational infrastructure.
The complex, which spans approximately 90,000 square meters and consists of 15 buildings, is set to accommodate 2,500 students from Trieste’s high schools. The buildings, once part of a military facility, include a variety of structures, such as twin barracks surrounding a parade ground, a command building, workshops, storage facilities, a gym, and even a cinema. The site also boasts ample green spaces, including large courtyards, open-air areas, and roads lined with tall trees.
The new development will transform the area into a vibrant hub for education, sports, and community activities. The approved Guidelines for the Regional Decentralization Authority (Edr) outline a diverse range of planned uses for the property, which will include:
- Educational Facilities: New spaces for secondary schools, university departments, school archives, and a library.
- Student Housing: A dedicated student residence hall to accommodate the growing number of university students.
- Sports Infrastructure: Two new gyms and an athletics track to support physical education and extracurricular activities.
- Administrative Offices: A civic center and municipal offices will be housed within the complex.
- Urban Green Spaces: A neighborhood park and campus grounds for recreational use.
Pierpaolo Roberti, the Regional Councillor for Local Autonomies, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting that it marks the first significant step in developing a space that will serve both educational and recreational needs. “Just ten days after we took possession of the campus area, the Regional Administration is already putting into motion a series of interventions that will bring this vision to life,” Roberti said. “This is a space that will serve not just 2,500 students, but also the entire community.”
The development will also address broader needs beyond education, with a plan to centralize school archives and create additional facilities for physical and sports activities. The project includes a dedicated space for the Regional Agency for the Right to Education, with plans to build a student housing complex.
In a nod to the growing trend of collaboration between public and private sectors, Roberti highlighted that the project would explore public-private partnerships, both during construction and operation. Public parking spaces will be included, not only to serve the campus but also to support the surrounding neighborhood, offering much-needed parking in the area.
For Trieste, this project represents an important step in the ongoing effort to modernize the city’s infrastructure, expand educational opportunities, and create a dynamic, multifaceted space that benefits the local community and students alike.
