The London Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The stadium will be located at Marshgate Lane in Stratford in the Lower Lea Valley and will have a capacity for the Games of approximately 80,000. Land preparation for the stadium began in mid-2007, with the official constuction start date on 22 May 2008, although piling works for the foundation unofficially began 4 weeks ahead of that date.

Design

The stadium will have a distinctive appearance due to its exterior cladding and roof, which will form a large mural of historical Olympic champions, participating countries’ flags, and sponsors’ logos. The stadium’s design will be revolutionary as it will largely be a temporary structure, which will be reduced from 80,000 to 25,000 seats after the games, leaving what organisers hope will be a sustainable living community stadium.

The stadium design was launched on 7 November 2007, as a “unique 80,000 seat stadium, it will be the centre-piece for the 2012 Games hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the athletics events, converting down to a 25,000 seat permanent stadium after the Games when it will become a new home for athletics, combined with other sporting, community and educational uses” according to LOCOG.

According to reports from the Sunday Times, the stadium’s track-and-field arena will be excavated out of the soft London clay on the site, around which there will be seating for 25,000. A steel structure will be built up from this “bowl” to accommodate a further 55,000 spectators.

Plastic will be wrapped around its exterior on which artists will set to work on the mural. The plastic wrap will be 20 metres (66 ft) high and encircle the 900-metre (1,000 yd) circumference of the stadium.

There will also be no food outlets inside the 80,000-seat arena, which reduces the need for kitchens and higher levels of fire protection associated with cooking. Instead, architects have planned party concourses outside the stadium inspired by the successful fan zones at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where spectators gathered to eat and drink and watch the action on big screens.

Sunday Times reports indicate that the roof structure (a cable stayed roof) will cover approximately two thirds of the stadium’s seating, leaving a potential 26,000 spectators exposed to Britain’s variable August weather patterns.

A six-month study conducted by Olympic organisers found that while no roof at all could invalidate any potential world records set at the stadium, a partial roof reduced the chance of winds that can invalidate sprint and jump records from 50% to 5%.

Development Process

On 13 October 2006 LOCOG confirmed that it had selected the Team Stadium consortium (consisting of Sir Robert McAlpine LTD, HOK Sport + Venue + Event and Buro Happold) to start negotiations with, in hope to find the contractor fulfilling the eventual design and build contract of the new Olympic Stadium.

The ODA received international and national interest to prequalify for the design and construction tender but Team Stadium was the only consortium to meet all prequalification criteria. The consortium was also the team who delivered the locally acclaimed new Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC. Team Stadium members have extensive experience in the design and build of sports venues, including the Olympic Stadium for the 2000 Sydney Games.

Completion of the stadium is expected in summer 2011.

Reaction

The stadium design received a mixed response from the media, with reviews ranging from “magnificent” to a “bowl of blancmange”.

The Olympic Stadium design was promoted as example of “sustainable development”, but some architecture critics have questioned both its aesthetic value and suitability as a national icon - especially when compared to Beijing National Stadium. For example, Ellis Woodman (Building Design’s architecture critic) said of the design:

“The principle of it being dismountable is most welcome… it demonstrates an obvious interest in establishing an economy of means and as such is the antithesis of the 2008 Olympic stadium in Beijing. But while that’s an achievement, it’s not an architectural achievement. In design terms what we’re looking at is pretty underwhelming.”

He goes on to criticise the procurement and design processes – stating of the latter that that it should have been subject to an architectural competition.

This view was echoed by Tom Dyckhoff, The Times’s architecture critic, who described the design as “tragically underwhelming” and commented that the “architecture of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics will, in years to come, be seen by historians as a “cunning indicator of the decline of the West and the rise of the East”.

Amanda Baillieu (Building Design magazine) challenges the designer’s claims that the stadium is environmentally sustainable and good value for money. Instead it is asserted that the reality will be the opposite. In particular, she claims that:

- the temporary roof could not be re-used to cover the permanent 25 000 seating area – given the difference in size;
- it is unlikely that the removed seating would be wanted for any other event e.g. the Glasgow Commonwealth games; and
- the costs involved in dismantling the stadium – and surrounding “pods” – has not been factored into the estimated cost.

Legacy

The legacy plan for the stadium will involve its conversion into a 25,000 to 30,000 seat athletics stadium with a sports training, science and medicine centre following the 2012 Paralympics. Media reports however have suggested that several potential tenants were interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after the games, among them several London football clubs:

- Leyton Orient F.C. The closest club geographically, Leyton Orient announced in November 2007 that they were in negotiations regarding permanent tenancy after the games. This would allow for redevelopment of their existing Matchroom Stadium and provide a regular use for the Olympic venue.

- West Ham United This proposal was advanced further following West Ham’s takeover by an Icelandic consortium, with new Chairman Eggert Magnusson announcing in November 2006 that he would begin discussions with London 2012 and the government about the club eventually moving. In February 2007, West Ham’s request to be allowed to move to the Olympic Stadium was rejected.

- Chelsea F.C. There had also been speculation that Chelsea might move there, due to lack of room for expansion at their current stadium. However, due to the terms of the Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club would have to relinquish the name ‘Chelsea Football Club’ should they ever move from Stamford Bridge.

Despite several rounds of negotiations with potential tenants, LOCOG has elected to adhere to its bid commitment to provide a legacy for athletics at the stadium, with capacity reduced to a more financially viable 25,000.

(source .. wikipedia) reproduced under GFDL

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London 2012 website
wikipedia entry
The Olympic Movement

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