A New Hub is Born at Maggiore: Seven Floors Dedicated to Mothers and Children

A €64.5 million project for maternity and pediatrics has been unveiled: it will be the first zero-energy building of the Bologna Local Health Authority (Ausl). "A model for the entire Emilia-Romagna region."

A zero-energy, safe, and welcoming building, designed to integrate maternity and pediatrics into a single modern and functional facility. This is the new Maternal and Pediatric Hub of the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna, officially presented on July 16, 2025, with a public investment of €64.5 million.

Covering an area of over 16,000 square meters across seven floors, the hub will bring together the main maternal and child healthcare services of Maggiore Hospital into a single structure. It will include 35 obstetrics beds, 14 pediatrics beds, 13 neonatology beds, and 4 neonatal intensive care beds—expandable to 10 if necessary. The facility will also house 7 delivery rooms and 2 operating theaters.

From an energy standpoint, it will be the first building of the Bologna Ausl constructed according to the Zeb – Zero Energy Building – model, with all energy needs met entirely by renewable sources. Designed by Ballardinipartners, the structure will also be equipped with seismic isolators at its base, ensuring maximum safety in the event of earthquakes.

Special attention has been given to the architectural quality of the spaces, designed to offer comfort and well-being to both patients and healthcare staff. Natural light will be provided through light wells and open areas between floors, while common spaces will be designed to create a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Delivery rooms with water birthing tubs are planned, along with dedicated areas for women who are victims of violence, family waiting zones, and a large therapeutic garden on the roof, accessible to patients, staff, and visitors. All design elements have been conceived to combine technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and a human-centered approach to care.

Where the New Building Will Be Located

The new facility will be built in the area currently occupied by the existing maternal and child wing of Maggiore Hospital, between the pulmonology unit and the old maternity ward, near the so-called "Camera calda" – the ambulance access point. The project will involve a series of complex preliminary works: the current straight access ramp will be demolished to make way for the new structure. Simultaneously, a new side ramp will be constructed, and the Camera calda will be expanded to serve not only the general and orthopedic emergency departments but also the pediatric and obstetric-gynecological ones. All emergency services will be located on the same level to ensure faster and more integrated patient transfers.

The construction will also require the demolition of some smaller buildings and a major excavation (between 5 and 6 meters deep), from which the new structure will rise.

The new hub is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the region's public healthcare system. "Defending public healthcare today means defending the Constitution," said Michele de Pascale, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region. "But defending rights also means embracing innovation: the maternal and child sector is strategic, and with this investment, Bologna becomes one of the most advanced places in Italy for the quality and safety of childbirth pathways. This project completes a vision that integrates hospital excellence with a network of territorial services, from counseling centers to the Apennines."