London 2012, Sport

Velodrome & VeloPark

Location : London   |   Status : Completed   |   Sector : London 2012, Sport

Description
Richard Arnold was the Project Sponsor with the Olympic Delivery Authority for the development and delivery of the Velodrome and VeloPark from its initial inception through to completion.

Located in the north of the Olympic Park, the Velodrome is one of the most iconic and sustainable of the London 2012 Games. The venue has capacity for 6,000 spectators, with the seating split into two tiers. A fully glazed screen between the upper and lower tiers forms the main public concourse to the venue as well as providing spectators with views into the venue and out to the rest of the Olympic Park.

The architecture and engineering was completely interwoven to produce an incredibly efficient and dynamic building. This is exemplified through the innovative use of a cable net roof structure to form the distinctive double-curved roof that also enabled the building to be constructed four months ahead of programme and saved £2m against more conventional forms of construction.

Cycling was put at the heart of the venue from the outset and the team consulted with British Cycling throughout the project. Additionally, Britain’s most successful Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy, helped develop the initial designs and in particular advised on the environmental conditions within the building, the seating configuration and the requirements of the elite athletes.

The Velodrome has received numerous awards including the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building of 2011 and the ODA were also awarded Client of the Year for London by the RIBA for the venue.

After the Games, the Velodrome undergoes minimal transformation and the remainder of the VeloPark is developed through the reconfiguration of the Olympic BMX track and the addition of a one-mile road circuit and over 7.5km of mountain bike trails. The designs for the legacy VeloPark were developed from the outset which helped to secure the support of British Cycling and local cycling groups during the planning process as well as ensuring that the legacy proposals were central to the Olympic plans. The VeloPark will be owned, managed and operated by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.