Campo Marzio Nord - Tourism and Conference Centre

The Tourism and Conference Centre is one of the key elements of the urban development strategy outlined by the City Council in the 2018–2028 guidelines. Planned for the Campo Marzio Nord area, the project aims to consolidate the city's position as a congress tourism destination.

The Convention Centre and the Surrounding Neighborhood

Lugano's congress tourism strategy also has a long history. The current Convention Centre, located in Piazza Castello, was built in 1984 and is now outdated. The estimated renovation costs are very high, ranging from 45 to 80 million Swiss francs. For this reason, the City Council has considered building a new one in the Campo Marzio Nord area. The new convention centre would thus become the starting point for the new planning of the entire area.

Urban planning for Campo Marzio Nord has been entrusted to an external interdisciplinary group (led by the Salewski Nater Kretz studio), which developed a Masterplan defining the urban prerequisites and the suitability of the area to host the new Tourism and Conference Centre. In 2023, the urban development concept was completed, confirming the feasibility of the new convention centre and defining the surrounding spaces and infrastructures.

The Masterplan proposes placing the new Convention Centre on the western half of the site, at the intersection of two urban axes: Viale Castagnola, through which a tram will pass in the future, and Via P. Capelli, parallel to the river. The surrounding area would be designated to host a hotel, residential buildings, services, and public green spaces. The current parking lot would be moved underground. The area's conversion would preserve almost all existing trees, which overall would increase thanks to new plantings. The goal is for the area to become a true neighborhood space, for daily use by residents as well as guests attending congress activities.

The conference facility should be able to host events with 1,200–1,500 participants over multiple days, offering modular spaces and a plenary hall of at least 1,300 seats. The spaces would be designed to accommodate events of both small and large sizes, of local, national, and international scope. Therefore, the presence of an adequate hotel offering (3-4 star category, 220 rooms) is essential.

The Public-Private Partnership

For the realization of the new Tourism and Conference Centre, the City has opted for a public-private partnership (PPP). Through an investor competition launched in 2012, two competitors were selected in 2018: the Halter Group and Implenia. In 2021, it was decided to proceed with a direct assignment to these two, united in a consortium. In 2022, a declaration of intent was signed with the City Council.

Next Steps

The next step involves the drafting of the Variant of the Zoning Plan (PQ4) for Campo Marzio Nord, planned for spring 2026. Subsequently, an architectural competition for the new convention centre will be held, with project completion estimated for 2038. The timeline for the opening of the new convention centre will be updated during the process.


Last update: 25 January 2024