Structural Designer
Expedition Engineering Ltd
Client Name
Olympic Delivery Authority
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Velodrome is a world-class venue which intelligently answers questions of function, beauty, sustainability, buildability and value; it has been delivered by a truly integrated design and construction team. Inspired by the dynamism and geometry of the track and the engineering rigour of high performance bikes, the team set out to design a building that made no distinction between architecture and engineering. The 6000 seat Velodrome has a 13,000 square metre roof which is supported by a doubly-curved cable net stressed between a perimeter ring beam, which is fully-integrated with the supporting structure. This impressive outcome belies the hugely-complex analysis that was required to ‘make it work’.
Judge's comment: "The new London 2012 Velodrome impressed the judges at so many levels. Above all, it is a supremely elegant synthesis of engineering and architecture; the beauty of the form, the lightness of the doubly curved cable net roof, the simplicity of the detailing. Somehow everything comes together in a single bold, yet simple, whole that represents truly sustainable design."
Judge's comment:
"The new London 2012 Velodrome impressed the judges at so many levels. Above all, it is a supremely elegant synthesis of engineering and architecture; the beauty of the form, the lightness of the doubly curved cable net roof, the simplicity of the detailing. Somehow everything comes together in a single bold, yet simple, whole that represents truly sustainable design."