Work has officially begun in Valdragone on San Marino’s new Security Hub (Polo della Sicurezza), a facility designed to bring together the Central Command of the Gendarmerie, Civil Protection, the Borgo Maggiore Brigade and joint inter-force units under a single roof. The laying of the first stone marks the start of construction at the former Forcellini Carni building, on Via Ovella 4. The project was unveiled today at a press conference held at the Secretariat of State for Territory.
The new hub will cover an internal area of around 4,100 square metres across four floors, accommodating 96 workstations. The goal is to centralize the agencies responsible for emergency management, improving coordination between services and ensuring faster response times.
According to the Secretariat of State, the building’s structural features make it particularly well suited to its new purpose. Its load-bearing structure, built mainly from prefabricated reinforced concrete, is in excellent condition and rests on deep foundations supported by drilled piles. The building meets class 4 seismic resistance standards, meaning it should remain fully operational even after earthquakes, and also offers level 4 fire-resistance performance.
Its central location within San Marino’s territory and ease of access were additional factors behind the choice of site. Repurposing the former Forcellini Carni building will also allow the State to make use of publicly owned property and cut down on rental costs.
One of the key outcomes of this reorganization will be the opportunity to free up the Kursaal, a long-standing goal in institutional discussions. Relocating these services will allow the historic building to be repurposed for other uses, while also improving operating conditions for the Gendarmerie.
“With the Security Hub, we’re bringing together under one roof all those who manage the country’s emergencies, in a safe and centrally located state-owned building,” said Secretary of State Matteo Ciacci. “We’re reclaiming a public property, cutting costly rents, and finally freeing up the Kursaal. Fewer announcements, more active construction sites — that’s how we intend to govern.”
In its statement, the Secretariat for Territory placed the project among a series of works launched in recent months across the Republic, citing the renovations at Baldasserona, Palazzo Begni, Scala Malagola and the ice rink, as well as the installation of telecom antennas, projects within the Castles, and ongoing land remediation efforts.
The project was developed through collaboration between the institutional and technical bodies involved. The Secretariat of State extended particular thanks to the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the Gendarmerie and its commander, General Maurizio Faraone, who is soon to step down from leading the Corps, as well as to Civil Protection, the Police Forces, AASLP, the design teams, public administration offices, and the construction company carrying out the work.
