When it was built in record time at the end of the seventies, Sava Center was more than an architectural endeavor – it was an expression of social ambition, a symbol of modernism and belief in the future. Under the leadership of the architect Stojan Maksimović and a team of top experts, a building was created that in each of its concrete modules carried the strength of the time that created it. Today, after a thorough reconstruction, Sava Center shines again as the largest regional congress, cultural and business center – but now with additional layers of meaning, technology and aesthetics. Its iconic glass facade, once a vision of progress and later a source of numerous technical challenges, has now been restored using state-of-the-art methods, with low-reflection triple glazed glass that preserves energy efficiency while revealing the Center’s fascinating inner world. The concrete, made of specific Sava gravel, has been revitalized to the extent that it looks as if it was cast yesterday – natural, strong and dignified.
In that perfectly preserved relationship between the old and the new, a special place is occupied by the Blue Hall – the cultural heart of Belgrade. Since September 2024, when it opened its doors again, the Blue Hall has become the epicenter of art, music and spectacle. In less than a year, it hosted more than 100 events – from concerts by leading artists from the region and the world, through Broadway musicals and world ballet troupes, to opera performances, conferences and large gaming events. Expanded and improved, today it can receive 4050 visitors, and in its carefully designed interior there are also 24 lodges that provide an exclusive experience. The hidden gem of the hall is the VIP Club – a space for up to 50 people intended for pre-event gatherings or intimate after-party meetings. Each segment of the Blue Hall is carefully designed to be functional and inspiring at the same time – a space that exudes art and confirms why Belgrade is one of the key points on the cultural map of the region.
In the neighboring facility A, attention is paid to congress, educational and sustainable contents. The amphitheater, a hall with an area of 560 square meters, with a capacity of up to 500 places, is ideal for lectures, conferences and gatherings in an environment that combines acoustic precision and architectural simplicity. The space itself is designed to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and ideas, with light that moves along the walls as if conducting a dialogue with those who are inside it. In the immediate vicinity, there is the Atrium – a spacious hall dedicated to sustainability and nature, with more than 1000 square meters and over 50 real plants. The dominant plant wall and glass ceiling create the feeling of a greenhouse, a place where technology and ecology meet in perfect balance. When the sun illuminates the space, you get the impression that you have stepped into the most beautiful garden in the world, when in fact you are in the heart of one of the most advanced urban centers of the region.
The reconstruction of the Sava Center was more than a technical challenge – it was an act of respect for history, but also a bold step towards the future. The key elements of the interior have been preserved – the main foyers, recognizable communications, the Main Congress Hall and the Blue Hall – while all other spaces have been redefined to meet the demands of the modern user. New systems for heating, cooling, lighting, security and multimedia support were introduced discreetly, with great respect for the original aesthetics. The stainless-steel channels that once belonged to the old cooling system have today been transformed into elegant chandeliers that retain their form but acquire a new function. The new panoramic elevators and staircases are discreetly integrated into the architecture, not disrupting the clean line of the space, but complementing it.
Today, Sava Center is the only building of its kind in the region that carries the BREEAM certificate, which ranks it among the most sustainable and modern multifunctional spaces in Europe. With 46 conference rooms, an innovative Immersive hall offering a 360-degree audio-visual experience, a green atrium and twice as much commercial space, the reconstructed center is not only renovated – it is rebuilt as an architectural message. The message that art and utilitarianism do not have to be in conflict. That heritage does not have to hinder progress, but can be its foundation. And that Belgrade, when it wants to, can create a space that preserves the past and shapes the future at the same time. Just as it was said at the opening of the renovated Sava Center – it was built to last forever.itect, author of the reconstruction, Delta Real Estate.
