Greening the Olympics

The London Olympics are over but its worth taking a look at its lasting footprint. The London Olympic Committee strove "to ensure that all the athletes perform to the best of their ability whilst pushing the boundaries of sustainability knowledge and design." Many of the venues were existing structures throughout London, but we're interested in the new builds, in particular the Shooting Ranges and the Aquatic Center.
 

The Royal Artillery Barracks were an important training center for British soldiers from the early 19th century until 2007. Site of the longest Georgian-style facade in the United Kingdom, the former home of the Royal Artillery hosted shooting events during this summer’s Games. In stark contrast with this 200 year old building stands three indoor shooting ranges. Each of the temporary venues was built from steel, clad in plywood and then covered in more of the phthalate-free PVC membrane that will be recycled after the games. But what is the most cutting-edge feature? Each of the buildings is laden with octopus-like suckers that will allow natural ventilation to circulate inside. The shooting ranges will be dismantled and be rented for other events after the Games’ conclusion.

Standing out with its wave-shaped roof, the Olympics’ second-largest building after the main Olympic Stadium is the first structure visitors see as they approach the Olympic Park. Built on a brownfield site, the Aquatics Center’s stunning ceiling, which soars over the two 50-meter pools, were built out of sustainably sourced Red Lauro timber. The exterior was constructed with precast modular blocks of concrete, which not only reduced the amount of emissions required to build the facility, but also eliminated the need for painting. The interior stands are made from steel and phthalate-free PVC wrap that will be recycled after the games. And most of the building materials, including the 866,000 tiles needed to line the pool and locker rooms, were delivered by train instead of truck.To learn more about the Aquatic Centre and to see more amazing pictures,visit the master-mind behind the design at Zaha-Hadid Architecture