Preliminary studies for both projects have been completed and submitted to the Ministry of Culture for evaluation at the forthcoming session of the Central Archaeological Council (KAS), scheduled for late August.
“This marks a significant milestone for our municipal administration,” stated Prodromos Nikiforidis, Deputy Mayor of Technical Works of Thessaloniki, in an interview with APE-MPE. “Since 2012, when the Boutaris administration first initiated efforts, this is the first time the Administrative Square project has reached the KAS.”
The current administration under Mayor Stelios Angeloudis anticipates receiving the green light from KAS by the end of the month. This approval will enable the municipality to advance the completion of the final design studies and commence construction of both projects within 2026.
The Administrative Square has been a longstanding urban challenge for Thessaloniki for the past 35 years. Situated opposite the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, the square was historically a popular gathering place for youth and athletes, and a site where prominent Thessalonians played football. The project was stalled for decades after the discovery of archaeological artifacts during plans to construct an underground parking facility, leaving a large excavation site in a central urban location.
Encouraging progress toward revitalizing Administrative Square followed discussions between Mayor Angeloudis and Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, with funding secured from the Region of Central Macedonia. Given the site's archaeological significance, the project will also require approval from the Central Council of Modern Monuments alongside KAS.
Separately, the regeneration of Democracy Square in the Vardari district will be financed through the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF). This initiative aims to transform Thessaloniki’s western entrance, which currently deters public engagement, into an inviting and vibrant meeting place. The project envisions revitalizing the square and surrounding streets to reestablish the area as a dynamic public space.
