NON-TRADITIONAL STRUCTURES
the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This sustainable approach avoids unnecessary venue construction and allows the city’s parks and iconic landmarks to play a ma- jor part in this historic event – promoting quintessential English backdrops to spec- tators across the world. Specific equipment for these ven-
ues will be hired and the pre-fabricated structures will then be recycled or used elsewhere after the big event. According to Chris Jopson, associ-
ate principal of Populous – the official London 2012 architectural and overlay
OLYMPIC OVERLAY L
Kath Hudson talks to the project managers in charge of the design and delivery of the temporary cluster of iconic venues for London 2012
ondon 2012 is ground-breaking in the number of temporary structures, rather than purpose- built venues, being used to host
design services provider – this temporary approach caught the attention of the In- ternational Olympic Committee (IOC) as a bid winning strategy. “London has set the trend on temporary structures and Olym- pic bidding nations are becoming more aware about what they’re leaving behind once the Games are over. The whole event lasts just six weeks and this tempo- rary overlay on existing buildings ensures that London is not left with structures that offer little or no post-Games value.”
Reuseable structures
Working together to create these sites – under the direction of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) – Popu- lous, engineering design company Atkins and project manager Drivers Jo- nas Deloitte have developed all aspects of the venues, from the look and feel, the user experi- ence, the delivery of seating and accommodation; as well as the back of house requirements such as power, water and lighting. As well as designing per-
manent structures, such as the Olympic Stadium and the Handball Arena, Populous has also designed a number
Above: An artist’s impression of the Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon venue at Greenwich Park. Left: Beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade.
Issue 1 2011 © cybertrek 2011
of standalone temporary structures for Games use as well as hybrid venues, which are a mixture of each. An innovative approach to one such
temporary structure is the double pitched, 16,000-seat hockey venue. Ac- cording to Jopson, after playing host to hockey competitions during the Games, some of the structure will be moved to the north of the Olympic Park to ex- tend the Eton Manor sports facilities. Providing 3,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase capacity to up to 15,000 for major events, this equipment will help to convert the site into a perma- nent Paralympic wheelchair tennis venue for the Paralympic Games and thereafter. In another example, the 6,000 seats
used within the temporary BMX venue, situated next to the Velodrome, will be re- moved for use elsewhere after the Games, although the BMX track will be kept to serve the local community post 2012. The 12,000-seat Basketball and Hand-
ball Arena is scheduled to be one of the largest temporary venues built for any Games and there will be just 22 hours to transform the venue from the basketball to the handball competition finals. “The structure is like a huge tent, but fully air-conditioned and environmentally sound,” says Jopson. “We’ve pushed the boundaries in terms of temporary design and what can be achieved with stretched fabric. The whole structure can be un- bolted and transported elsewhere to be used again and again.”
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