A Strategic, Secure and Technological Infrastructure

By Editorial Staff - 6 May 2026
DORMAKABA ITALIA has participated in the project

Conceived as “another piece of the city” serving both Tortona and the surrounding area because of its strategic location, the Cittadella dello Sport complex transforms a former industrial site into a hub for sport, culture and community life. Designed by Barreca & La Varra, the project spans roughly 70,000 sq. m, anchored by the Nova Arena – a 5,000-seat circular venue at the core of the wider urban regeneration scheme. Surrounding it, a series of pavilions houses the Derthona Basket training and operations center, a gym with locker rooms and an infopoint with food services and ticketing.

The project also carries a strong symbolic dimension. Its architecture is defined by clear, geometric forms, echoed in the façades: expanded aluminum mesh wraps the arena, while the Derthona Basket section is clad in reflective aluminum panels composed of thin metal sheets.

Cittadella dello Sport © Andrea Brandino, courtesy dormakaba

Managing visitor flows – critical to ensuring safety across the complex – was a central aspect of the project, leading to the involvement of dormakaba. Following a detailed analysis of home and away fan movements, the system includes 16 full-height Kentaur FTS E02 turnstiles, arranged in four banks of four gates. The layout is designed to minimize queuing, while two additional access points (model FGE M01) are specifically for users with disabilities. All entry points are covered to ensure comfort even in adverse weather conditions. The Kentaur turnstiles were selected for their performance in high-traffic environments: robust, modular and equipped with intelligent locking systems to prevent incidents, while maintaining low energy consumption and offering flexible configuration.

Each turnstile is equipped with dormakaba Alvarado Ultra Q terminals – devices designed for access control in sports and entertainment venues. Features include
tap-and-go validation for digital tickets, barcode and QR code readers with customizable displays, and visual and acoustic signals to streamline entry and reduce waiting times. The system also integrates seamlessly with ticketing platforms.

The Cittadella dello Sport in Tortona brings together architectural complexity and advanced access control, combining design with intelligent, intuitive and secure management systems.