London Aquatics Centre

Learning legacy
Lessons learned from the London
2012 Games construction project

Sustainability of the
Aquatics Centre

Authors
Kirsten Henson
KLH Sustainability
(previously Aquatics Centre
Sustainability Single Point of Contact)

Abstract
‘Legacy’ is the concept that underlies the sustainability agenda of the
London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games, embracing temporary infrastructure and venues to leave behind a vibrant, productive community with world-class, affordable sporting facilities.
The Aquatics Centre, developed as an architectural icon, was the most complex venue constructed on the
Olympic Park. This case study explores the integration of sustainability into the Aquatics
Centre, providing a balanced view of the venue’s sustainability credentials and considering its contribution to the sustainability agenda beyond the boundaries of the Park.

Images showing Games-time mode (left) and legacy mode (right)
1

The Aquatics Centre
London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games presented a comprehensive vision for the first sustainable Games. In 2007, the
Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) embodied this commitment in its
Sustainable Development Strategy1.
The Aquatics Centre’s design featured in the bid, with an iconic wave-like roof defining the gateway to the Park for the majority of visitors.
Temporary seating structures provide a 17,500-seat Games-time capacity for the venue. After the Games these are replaced by a 14-metre-high cantilevered glazed curtain wall, reducing capacity to a legacyappropriate 2,500 and flooding the interior with natural daylight.

The Aquatics Centre also integrates a 45m wide bridge, responsible for providing Park access for over
750,000 Games spectators. PostGames, the bridge will be reduced to
14m, better suited to accommodating legacy visitors.

working relationships and mutual respect between the client, the design team and the contractor.
These

References: 1 Olympic Delivery Authority (2007). Sustainable Development Strategy. 2 Olympic Delivery Authority (2011). Olympic Park Water Demand Model. 4 Henson, K. (2011). The procurement and use of sustainable concrete on the Olympic Park 5 ODA (2009). Policy on the use of PVC for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 7 Adapted from Ove Arup and Partners (2009). London Aquatics Centre, Stage F Design – Part L Compliance Report 9 Adapted from Ove Arup and Partners (2009). London Aquatics Centre, IGPT Water Strategy Report Issue 2.