London Stadium
 | |
| Location | Stratford, London |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 80,000 (25,000 Post Olympics)[citation needed] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | Unknown (Expected completion by 2011) |
| Closed | N/A |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Construction cost | Unknown |
| Architect | Team McAlpine HOK Sport Buro Happold |
| Tenants | |
| 2012 Summer Olympics | |
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 will begin in mid-2007, with construction beginning in mid-2008 and completion scheduled for mid-2011.
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.
According to the most recent reports from XXXXXXX, 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 65ft high and encircle the 1,000-yard 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.
Roof
On 23 March 2007 Building magazine revealed that as a cost saving measure, the stadium will not include a roof structure, except over an area for VIPs and executives. [1]
However, Sunday Times reports indicate that the roof structure, (predicted to be a "cable net" roof, using similar technology to that used in Munich 1972's Olympiastadion Munich) 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 McAlpine consortium (consisting of McAlpine, 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. [2]
The ODA received international and national interest to prequalify for the design and construction tender but Team McAlpine was the only consortium to meet all prequalification criteria. Team McAlpine was also the team who delivered the locally acclaimed new Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC.
Team McAlpine have extensive experience in the design and build of sports venues, including the Olympic Stadium for the 2000 Sydney Games.
It was announced in December 2006 that Peter Cook, the leading architect of HOK Sport + Venue + Event, will be involved in the design process of the stadium. He has promised to deliver a 'really chirpy building', with innovative features that will enable it to contract from an 80,000-seat venue to 25,000-seater after the Games.[3] Cook founded the architectural group Archigram in 1961. His most recent architectural project was the Kunsthaus Graz, a museum of modern art, in Graz, Austria.
The final design is expected to be unveiled to the public in summer 2007. Completion of the stadium is expected in summer 2011.
Post Olympic legacy
The legacy plans in the London 2012 bid is to have the stadium converted into a 25,000 seat athletics stadium with a sports training, science and medicine centre following the 2012 Paralympics.
Several football teams have expressed a desire to move into the Olympic stadium after the games. Despite several rounds of negotiations with potential tenants, LOCOG has elected to adhere to it's bid commitment to provide a legacy for athletics at the stadium, with capacity reduced to a more financially viable 25,000.
Footballing tenant negotiations
Media reports have indicated that several potential tenants were interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after the games. Clubs reported interested included:
Leyton Orient F.C. [4]. With space at their current home, The Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road, being limited by the building of flats, it is possible that Leyton Orient could accumulate a fanbase necessary to justify becoming tenants of the stadium. Orient should be seen as the natural choice if a football club was to take over due to Leyton Orient being the closest club to Stratford.
West Ham United [5] 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.
[6]. In February 2007, West Ham's request to be allowed to move to the Olympic Stadium was rejected[7].
Chelsea F.C. There has also been speculation that Chelsea might move there, due to lack of room for expansion at their current stadium [8]. 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.
References
- ^ Olympic stadium: if you’re not a VIP bring a brolly "Building Online", retrieved 28 March 2007
- ^ Negotiations start with Arsenal stadium team London 2012 Official Website, retrieved 19 December 2006
- ^ Peter Cook to lead Olympic Stadium design process The Times Online, retrieved 19 December 2006
- ^ {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6320267.stm%7Ctitle=Hammers' Olympic move ruled out |publisher=BBC|date=07-02-2007}}
- ^ {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6070052.stm |title=West Ham in talks on 2012 stadium |publisher=BBC|date=20-10-2006}}
- ^ {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6185254.stm |title=Hammers in talks on stadium move |publisher=The BBC|date=29-11-2006}}
- ^ London 2012 Press Release
- ^ "Chelsea plan Bridge redevelopment". BBC. 20-1-2006.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- Location of the Olympic Stadium on Google Maps (current photograph was taken in 2006, before construction began -- link accessed 2006-06-06)
- 2012 London Olympic Stadium Description and Images