From athletes to academics: Milan’s Olympic Village becomes student housing

The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over, but the story of Milan’s Olympic Village is far from finished. Propmodo shares how in the real estate world, the journey continues as this thoughtfully designed complex transitions into much-needed student housing. Built on the former Porta Romana rail yard, the 1,700-bed village was envisioned by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with a clear post-Games purpose: to provide affordable accommodations for Milan’s university students. Now, the city is preparing to convert the village into student residences in just four months, ready for the 2026-2027 academic year. Unlike the temporary setups seen at past Olympics, these units were built to last, featuring private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and high-quality furniture. About 30% of the units will be offered at subsidized rates averaging €430 per month—roughly 25% below market pricing.

This transformation couldn’t come at a better time for Milan, which faces a significant student housing shortage. With over 200,000 students attending the city’s universities, affordable housing options have been scarce. The Olympic Village will help meet around 6% of this demand, while an additional 320 affordable housing units on the same site will further ease the pressure. The project has also been pre-qualified for public funding from Italy’s Ministry of Universities, which could reduce rents even further for up to 12 years. Beyond housing, the development is part of a larger urban regeneration effort at Porta Romana, complete with restored historic railway buildings, green spaces, shops, and cafes. Sustainability is at the heart of the design, with LEED Gold certification, mass timber construction, heat pumps, a 1 MW solar array, and stormwater reuse systems ensuring the project’s environmental performance.

Milan’s approach offers a blueprint for how Olympic infrastructure can serve communities long after the Games have ended. By designing the village for student housing from the outset and choosing a location that supports long-term use, the city has avoided the costly retrofits and underutilized spaces that have plagued past host cities. This forward-thinking model demonstrates the value of building for the second use first, rather than treating it as an afterthought. The concept could inspire similar strategies for other major event constructions, such as convention centers, temporary hospitals, or corporate campuses, ensuring developments serve broader community needs across multiple lifecycles.

For more insights, check out the original article on Propmodo.