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Watershed for 2012 swimmers as aquatics centre gets new roof
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor11 Nov 2009
Work on the £300million Olympic aquatics centre - the architectural gem of the 2012 Games - reached a major milestone today with the completion of the stingray-shaped roof.
The vast steel structure has been lowered into place after a seven-month engineering project, creating a gleaming new feature on east London's skyline.
Weighing 3,000 tonnes and at 160 metres (525 feet) long, the frame was assembled on site and spent several months on temporary supports 20 metres off the ground before being put into place.
Pools have been excavated and work begins next year on the 12,000-square-metre timber ceiling with the project - the most complex of the new Olympic Park venues - due for completion in mid-2011.
Designed by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid, the complex will merge with a pedestrian bridge linking the Park to Stratford town centre and forming what is billed as the "Gateway to the Games" to be used by thousands of spectators every day.
Olympics chiefs have hailed the project as an example of nationwide business opportunities with steel fabricated in Newport, plate rolled in Gateshead, Motherwell and Scunthorpe and the construction project run by London-based Balfour Beatty. Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: "The aquatics centre will be a new landmark building for east London and will offer elite and community swimming and diving facilities in legacy."
Competing in 2012 will be US swimmer Michael Phelps defending multiple titles, Britain's Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington and diver Tom Daley. After the Games two "wedges" of seating will be removed to reduce the capacity to 2,500 with two 50-metre pools and a 25-metre diving pool.
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "At Games-time, 17,500 excited spectators will be able to raise the roof cheering on the swimmers."
Builders have been forced to put the roof on at this early stage because of its weight. Temporary columns needed to support it would have destroyed the concrete beds of the pools if the roof had been put on at a later date.
A steel at £300m
Budget: approximately £300 million
Architect: Zaha Hadid
Builder: Balfour Beatty
Roof length: 160m
Roof width: 90m
Weight: 3,000 tonnes of Welsh steel
Capacity: 17,500 (2,500 after 2012)
Hot ticket in 2012: World champion Tom Daley goes for Olympic gold
Reader views (11)
It was very pleasing to me read that welsh steel was used in the making of this wonderful building , regards Andrew Davies ex. Merthyr Tydfil
- Andrew Davies, Veliko Turnovo, 07/12/2009 15:14
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It about time we had world class facilities that will allow us to hold world class events.
Even with 3 pools this still wont make up for all the pools Tory and Lib Dem councils have sold off!!!
Me thinks Congratulations to former Mayor Ken are in order for getting back some of the billions of pounds London has lost to tory shires following the loss of business rate revenue stolen by "snatcher Thatcher!"
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 12/11/2009 19:27
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£300,000,000 MILLION That would have built much needed swimming pools all over the country. Instead the lucky people of Stratford will have it, lets hope they use it after the games.
- Mr S.Port, London, 11/11/2009 23:00
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Well at least it looks like the building will be on time...probably be just as quick to knock them down afterwards!
- Mark, Watford, 11/11/2009 21:13
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What a waste? They haven't even mentioned about footballers losing a Changing room for a season, where would we change?
They show what we are getting, but not losing
- Adrian, london, 11/11/2009 16:16
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Moan, moan, moan.
- Barry Ls, London, 11/11/2009 16:10
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Read the last paragraph Bob. However they weren't forced to build the roof first. It was designed to built that way.
- Patrick, Dalston, 11/11/2009 15:49
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Fantastic!
What a waste of money we can ill afford to spend.
- Steve, London, 11/11/2009 15:46
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An ugly monstrosity for us to remember these waste of money games.
- Frank, London, 11/11/2009 13:01
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£300mil for a swimming pool?!? Ok 3 swimming pools.
- Peter, Chelmsford UK., 11/11/2009 12:44
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I'm not a builder or an architect but isn't the roof usually the last thing to go onto a building rather than the first?
- Bob, Cheam, 11/11/2009 12:29
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