| London Aquatics Centre |
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| Location |
100-107 A115, Stratford, London, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates |
Coordinates: 51°32′25″N 0°00′38″W / 51.5402°N 0.0106°W / 51.5402; -0.0106 |
| Built |
27 July 2011 |
| Operator |
Olympic Delivery Authority |
| Surface |
Swimming and diving pools |
| Construction cost |
£269m |
| Architect |
Zaha Hadid Architects, Sports Architect - S&P Architects[1] |
| Project Manager |
Stuart Fraser (Balfour Beatty) |
| Structural engineer |
Ove Arup & Partners |
| Services engineer |
Fire safety - Arup Fire[2], Acoustics - Arup Acoustics[3], Lighting - Arup Lighting[4], Facade - Robert-Jan Van Santen Associates |
| General Contractor |
Balfour Beatty |
| Main contractors |
Concrete - London Concrete[5], Steelwork - Rowecord Engineering[6] |
| Capacity |
17,500 (2,500 Post Olympics)[7] |
| Tenants |
| 2012 Summer Olympics |
The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50 metre swimming pools and a 25 metre diving pool, which will be one of the main venues of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the London 2012 Summer Paralympics.
[edit] History
[edit] Design
It was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid in 2004 before London won the bid. The centre is located in the Olympic Park at Stratford in east London. With its distinctive architecture and curved roof, it will be the first venue visitors see upon entering the Olympic Park.
The design software used was Oasys, the software division of Arup[8]. The drainage design software used was from Micro Drainage.[9] The Project Architect was Jim Heverin. The site is 45 metres high, 160 metres long, and 80 metres wide.
[edit] Construction
The Aquatics Centre contract was awarded to Balfour Beatty in April 2008.[10] At the same time it was reported that the centre would cost about three times as much as was originally estimated, totalling about £242m. The cost increases were attributed to construction inflation and VAT increases, and also included the estimated cost of converting the facility for public use after the Olympics and Paralympics.[11] The roof is stated to be 11,200 square feet (1,040 m2), a reduction from the previously stated 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2).
Despite the cost increases, the centre should stay within the total construction budget for the event, which is an estimated £6.09bn.[11]
Construction started in July 2008 and was completed in July 2011.
The aluminium roof covering has been provided by Kalzip[12]. The steel structure was built in cooperation with Rowecord Engineering. The ceiling was built with 30,000 sections of Red Lauro timber.
The six-board dive tower is made from 462 tonnes of concrete. The steel roof weighs 3,200 tonnes. The three pools hold around 10 million litres of water.
The interior of the aquatic centre in July 2011
London Aquatics Centre during construction in February 2011
The centre will be used for the Olympic event of swimming, diving, and synchronised swimming, and for the Paralympic event of swimming.
[edit] Capacity
During the Games the venue will have a capacity of 17,500. The two temporary 'wings' will be removed post-games reducing the capacity to a regular 2,500, with an additional 1000 seats available for major events.[13]
[edit] Legacy
It is expected that the centre will leave a legacy of replacing the pools at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in South London as London's leading facility for aquatic sports.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ London Olympic Organizers Say Aquatics Site Work Ahead of Plan
- ^ (1 December 2005). "Olympic pool plans to be revised" at BBC News. Accessed 1 December 2005.
- ^ BBC News website
- ^ London 2012 website
[edit] External links
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| River Zone |
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| Outside London |
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1912: Barkarby, Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, Kaknäs, Östermalm Athletic Grounds, Stockholm Olympic Stadium • 1920: Olympisch Stadion • 1924: Fontainebleau, Le Stand de Tir de Versailles, Piscine des Tourelles, Stade de Colombes • 1928: Amersfoort, Hilversum, Olympic Sports Park Swim Stadium, Schemzaal, Zeeburg Shooting Grounds • 1932: 160th Regiment State Armory, Los Angeles Police Pistol Range, Riviera Country Club, Sunset Fields Golf Club, Swimming Stadium • 1936: Döberitz, Haus des Deutschen Sports, Olympic Swimming Stadium, Ruhleben, Wannsee Golf Course • 1948: Aldershot, Bisley National Rifle Association Ranges, Royal Military Academy • 1952: Hämeenlinna • 1956: Oaklands Hunt Club, Royal Exhibition Building, Swimming/Diving Stadium, Williamstown • 1960: Acqua Santa Golf Club Course, Palazzo dei Congressi, Passo Corese, Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto, Umberto I Shooting Range • 1964: Asaka Nezu Park, Asaka Shooting Range, Kemigawa, National Gymnasium, Waseda Memorial Hall • 1968: Campo Militar 1, Fernando Montes de Oca Fencing Hall, Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool, Vincente Suárez Shooting Range • 1972: Messegelände Fechthalle 2, Olympiastadion, Riding Facility, Riem; Schießanlage, Schwimmhalle • 1976: Montreal Botanical Garden, Olympic Equestrian Centre, Bromont; Olympic Pool, Olympic Shooting Range, L'Acadie; Winter Stadium, Université de Montréal • 1980: CSKA Football Fieldhouse, Dynamo Shooting Range, Swimming Pool - Olimpisky, Trade Unions' Equestrian Complex • 1984: Coto de Caza, Heritage Park Aquatic Center • 1988: Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool, Mongchon Tosong, Olympic Fencing Gymnasium, Seoul Equestrian Park, Taenung International Shooting Range • 1992: Cross-country course, Mollet del Vallès Shooting Range, Palau de la Metal·lúrgia, Piscines Bernat Picornell, Real Club de Polo de Barcelona • 1996: Georgia International Horse Park, Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Georgia World Congress Center • 2000: Sydney Baseball Stadium, Sydney International Aquatic Centre, The Dome and Exhibition Complex • 2004: Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre • 2008: Olympic Green Convention Center, Olympic Sports Centre, Ying Tung Natatorium • 2012: Aquatics Centre, Greenwich Park, Copper Box, Royal Artillery Barracks • 2016: Deodoro Modern Pentathlon Park
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