World-renowned Italian architects Stefano Boeri and Cino Zucchi will stand trial in Milan. The case concerns alleged irregularities in the international competition for the design of the New European Library of Information and Culture. The prosecution accuses them of bid-rigging and submitting false statements regarding conflicts of interest. Judge Fabrizio Filice has set the date for the first hearing in April, concluding the preliminary investigation phase in this high-profile case.

Bid-rigging Charges

Investigators accuse the architects of rigging the competition for the New European Library project by violating the principles of fair competition and colluding with selected entities.

Conflict of Interest

The charges concern the submission of false declarations regarding the absence of connections with tender participants by Stefano Boeri and Cino Zucchi.

Trial Commencement

Judge Fabrizio Filice has set the date for the first hearing on April 17, 2026, concluding the lengthy prosecutorial investigation.

Investigating judge Fabrizio Filice has decided to indict six individuals, including two of Italy's most recognizable architects. Stefano Boeri and Cino Zucchi, professors at the Politecnico di Milano, will answer for actions related to the competition for the construction of the BEIC facility. This project, a key element of Milan's cultural infrastructure, became the subject of an investigation due to suspicions of bid-rigging. The prosecution's charges focus on the alleged submission of false declarations regarding the absence of a conflict of interest. Both architects played significant roles in the bid selection process – Boeri was the chairman of the committee, and Zucchi was its member. Investigators are examining whether their mutual connections and professional relationships with competition participants violated the principles of fair competition. In February of last year, the court rejected a request for house arrest for the professors, but they were then temporarily banned from participating in public tenders and holding state functions. The construction of the New European Library of Information and Culture in Milan is one of Italy's most prestigious cultural investments in recent decades, aiming to create a modern knowledge center modeled on Europe's largest capitals. The criminal trial will begin on April 17, 2026 before the court in Milan. In addition to the two main defendants, four other individuals involved in the tender procedures will sit in the dock. The case is causing great emotion in the architectural community, as Boeri is the creator of the famous "Bosco Verticale" skyscraper, and his indictment may cast a shadow on the professional achievements of both lecturers to date. The defendants' lawyers have announced they will demonstrate the baselessness of the charges during the upcoming court proceedings, emphasizing the transparency of their clients' actions. 17 kwietnia — Trial start date for famous architectsKey procedural stages: February 18, 2025 — Rejection of house arrest request; February 16, 2026 — Decision to indict; April 17, 2026 — First hearing before the Milan court

Mentioned People

  • Stefano Boeri — Famous architect, creator of Bosco Verticale, accused of bid-rigging.
  • Cino Zucchi — Italian architect and lecturer at Politecnico di Milano, accused in the BEIC case.
  • Fabrizio Filice — Preliminary hearing judge who decided to send the case to court.