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Designed by Pritzker prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, the London Aquatics Centre was built to host the London 2012 Olympics swimming and diving events and to accommodate over 17,000 people. The centre consists of a 50 m warm-up pool, 50 m competition pool and a diving pool with boards and platforms up to 10 m high.
The steel roof, designed to resemble a manta ray, is a sculptural masterpiece. Concrete made up the rest of the structure and was used to create striking features such as the diving boards and leaf-like skylights. The project won the RIBA London National Awards 2014 and was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize 2014.
We were appointed by Balfour Beatty to build the centre’s reinforced concrete substructure and superstructure. Construction was supervised by the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Structures
A Concrete Beauty
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The project was designed to showcase concrete in all its beauty. We developed and trialled a suite of concrete mixes with our supplier and were able achieve a uniform colour throughout. Exposed concrete elements included the curvilinear shaped walls surrounding the main pools and diving boards, as well as the roof supports and the six diving boards.
To achieve an “as struck” high-quality finish, bespoke forms were used to build the reinforced concrete walls around the centre and diving area. A number of wall panels were fabricated offsite in factory conditions and assembled on site to achieve high level accuracy between wall sections. Fibre glass moulds formed the leaf shapes in the ceiling above the training pool. To achieve the straight, curved and sloped lines of the diving boards, we used a series of fibreglass moulds as well as bespoke plywood forms within a birdcage temporary works structure.
Sustainable Collaboration
03
Arup was keen to understand the interplay between the steel roof and main concrete building, extensively using 3D modelling and consulting with the various specialists. When it came to concrete pour sequencing and the concrete mixes required to achieve strict waterproofing requirements, such collaboration was crucial.
We also worked with Arup to reduce the impact of concrete by using secondary aggregates and cement replacement material. Our efforts exceeded the project target, achieving an embodied carbon saving of 4000 metric tonnes. The project was awarded a BREEAM Innovation Credit for the concrete mixes used.
Pool Substructure
04
Our substructure work revolved around the formation of foundation structures and pile caps for the three main roof supports. The foundation involved the sinking of 1,000 concrete piles 25 m into the ground by Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. A series of “mega-cap” load transfer structures were formed over LUL rail and high voltage infrastructure tunnels and concrete trestle bases for the temporary roof supports were built.
The installation of pool filtration, drainage and backwash systems was integrated into the concrete pour sequences as well as the construction of attenuation and balancing tanks. Overall, the pool substructure was watertight and built to high tolerances.
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Sustainable Collaboration
03
Arup was keen to understand the interplay between the steel roof and main concrete building, extensively using 3D modelling and consulting with the various specialists. When it came to concrete pour sequencing and the concrete mixes required to achieve strict waterproofing requirements, such collaboration was crucial.
We also worked with Arup to reduce the impact of concrete by using secondary aggregates and cement replacement material. Our efforts exceeded the project target, achieving an embodied carbon saving of 4000 metric tonnes. The project was awarded a BREEAM Innovation Credit for the concrete mixes used.
Pool Substructure
04
Our substructure work revolved around the formation of foundation structures and pile caps for the three main roof supports. The foundation involved the sinking of 1,000 concrete piles 25 m into the ground by Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. A series of “mega-cap” load transfer structures were formed over LUL rail and high voltage infrastructure tunnels and concrete trestle bases for the temporary roof supports were built.
The installation of pool filtration, drainage and backwash systems was integrated into the concrete pour sequences as well as the construction of attenuation and balancing tanks. Overall, the pool substructure was watertight and built to high tolerances.
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Sustainable Collaboration
03
Arup was keen to understand the interplay between the steel roof and main concrete building, extensively using 3D modelling and consulting with the various specialists. When it came to concrete pour sequencing and the concrete mixes required to achieve strict waterproofing requirements, such collaboration was crucial.
We also worked with Arup to reduce the impact of concrete by using secondary aggregates and cement replacement material. Our efforts exceeded the project target, achieving an embodied carbon saving of 4000 metric tonnes. The project was awarded a BREEAM Innovation Credit for the concrete mixes used.
Pool Substructure
04
Our substructure work revolved around the formation of foundation structures and pile caps for the three main roof supports. The foundation involved the sinking of 1,000 concrete piles 25 m into the ground by Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. A series of “mega-cap” load transfer structures were formed over LUL rail and high voltage infrastructure tunnels and concrete trestle bases for the temporary roof supports were built.
The installation of pool filtration, drainage and backwash systems was integrated into the concrete pour sequences as well as the construction of attenuation and balancing tanks. Overall, the pool substructure was watertight and built to high tolerances.
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click to open
Sustainable Collaboration
03
Arup was keen to understand the interplay between the steel roof and main concrete building, extensively using 3D modelling and consulting with the various specialists. When it came to concrete pour sequencing and the concrete mixes required to achieve strict waterproofing requirements, such collaboration was crucial.
We also worked with Arup to reduce the impact of concrete by using secondary aggregates and cement replacement material. Our efforts exceeded the project target, achieving an embodied carbon saving of 4000 metric tonnes. The project was awarded a BREEAM Innovation Credit for the concrete mixes used.
Pool Substructure
04
Our substructure work revolved around the formation of foundation structures and pile caps for the three main roof supports. The foundation involved the sinking of 1,000 concrete piles 25 m into the ground by Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. A series of “mega-cap” load transfer structures were formed over LUL rail and high voltage infrastructure tunnels and concrete trestle bases for the temporary roof supports were built.
The installation of pool filtration, drainage and backwash systems was integrated into the concrete pour sequences as well as the construction of attenuation and balancing tanks. Overall, the pool substructure was watertight and built to high tolerances.
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Sustainable Collaboration
03
Arup was keen to understand the interplay between the steel roof and main concrete building, extensively using 3D modelling and consulting with the various specialists. When it came to concrete pour sequencing and the concrete mixes required to achieve strict waterproofing requirements, such collaboration was crucial.
We also worked with Arup to reduce the impact of concrete by using secondary aggregates and cement replacement material. Our efforts exceeded the project target, achieving an embodied carbon saving of 4000 metric tonnes. The project was awarded a BREEAM Innovation Credit for the concrete mixes used.
Pool Substructure
04
Our substructure work revolved around the formation of foundation structures and pile caps for the three main roof supports. The foundation involved the sinking of 1,000 concrete piles 25 m into the ground by Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering. A series of “mega-cap” load transfer structures were formed over LUL rail and high voltage infrastructure tunnels and concrete trestle bases for the temporary roof supports were built.
The installation of pool filtration, drainage and backwash systems was integrated into the concrete pour sequences as well as the construction of attenuation and balancing tanks. Overall, the pool substructure was watertight and built to high tolerances.
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