The northern facade of the central building of the Greek Ministry of National Defense, located at the “Alexandros Papagos” military camp, has been fully renovated thanks to a Piraeus Bank donation of €10 million. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and Piraeus Bank CEO Christos Megalou.
The design of the new facade was created by sculptor and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki professor Konstantinos Varotsos. The bioclimatic facade combines an aesthetic upgrade of the building with a significant reduction in energy consumption.
With the completion of this project, the full cycle of the building’s exterior architectural transformation is now complete. This broader renovation program also includes the sculpture “Ark of National Memory,” the redevelopment of the surrounding grounds, and the bioclimatic facade of the main entrance.
The interventions are complemented by newly landscaped green spaces and a new architectural lighting scheme, developed through a collaboration between Konstantinos Varotsos and Eleftheria Deco. Meanwhile, the renovation of the building’s interior spaces continues, with the goal of improving working conditions and enhancing the ministry’s overall functionality.
In his remarks, Nikos Dendias spoke about the transformation of the Greek Armed Forces under the framework of “Agenda 2030.” Regarding the renovation of the central building, he noted: “This too is part of the reform of the Armed Forces, and it was made possible through generous private sponsorship — much like many times throughout our history. Just as in the era of Athenian democracy, great public works, including the mighty Athenian fleet itself, were built on the institution of sponsorship — the donation of private wealth for the common good. Today, as we unveil the northern facade of the building, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Piraeus Bank, its shareholders, its executives, and especially its CEO, Mr. Christos Megalou, for the €10 million sponsorship that allowed us to bring this facade to life based on the designs of Kostas Varotsos.”
Christos Megalou: Supporting projects with lasting social value is a timeless priority
Piraeus Bank CEO Christos Megalou stated: “The completion of this landmark project reflects Piraeus Bank’s enduring commitment to contributing to initiatives with meaningful social impact and lasting value. The renovation of the central building of the Ministry of National Defense highlights the prestige of an institution that serves the security and stability of our country, while at the same time reflecting the dynamism of a modern Greece. For Piraeus Bank, supporting projects that strengthen institutions and create value for society is a timeless priority and a responsibility we embrace.”
The project’s creator, Konstantinos Varotsos, also addressed the audience with a brief speech. Among the distinguished guests at the ceremony were Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, former President of the Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos, and Bishop Barnabas of Christoupolis, representing Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece.
Also in attendance were government ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, the leadership and officers of the Greek Armed Forces, as well as representatives of the security services, judicial authorities, diplomatic missions, and other public bodies.
