The Aquatics Centre in London's East End, realized by seele, has a stell-and-glass as well as a aluminium-and-glass façade.

6,450sqm

glass façade area  

425t

structural steelwork

aquatics centre

The water sports centre in London’s East End for the 2012 Summer Olympics is a design by the architect Zaha Hadid. It is the undulating roof over this facility and the large glass façades on the east and the west side that really grab the attention. The full potential of this sports centre has been revealed since the steep, temporary grandstands – only necessary during the Games – were taken down.

  • Design, fabrication and supply of both the steel glass and the aluminium glass façades for the interior and exterior areas of this project were the responsibility of seele. This design called for many demanding details. One of those is the all-glass vestibule in the centre of the gently inward-sloping entrance façade. Its 3m high sliding doors glide smoothly – despite their weight of 150kg – alongside the glass of the façade itself. The high U-value requirements for indoor swimming pools also called for numerous custom solutions.

    Another, internal, glass façade separates the spacious entrance foyer from the swimming area itself. This façade at an angle of 28° traces a large arc on plan. The wide spacing of the posts and the large-format glazing guarantee unobstructed views of the pools as soon as visitors enter the foyer.

    The east and west façades that were built after the removal of the Olympic grandstands were also part of seele’s contract. These inward-sloping external façades merge gracefully with the roof construction. Each post is connected via diagonal struts to an extra column behind the façade to form a trussed girder. This façade structure is fixed at ground level and thus forms a stable cantilever element that transfers all façade loads into the ground slab.

    Hot water flows through all the steel hollow sections of the external façades to prevent condensation forming on the glass. All the glazing is covered with a pattern of ceramic screen-printed black dots to ensure that the interior is bathed in pleasant sunshine, but without unpleasant glare.

    Reference overview and Header image: © Hufton + Crow

  • seele realized a steel-and glass and aluminium-and-glass-construction for the water sport's centre in London.
  • Another, internal glass façade seperates the spacious entrance foyer from the swimming area itself.
  • Façade specialist seele realized numerous façade solutions to rewuire the U-value for indoor swimming pools.
  • seele made an external and internal façade for the Aquatics Centre, as well as the Lobby and sliding doors.
  • Wide spacing of the posts and the large-format glazing guarantee unobstructed views of the pools as soon as visitors enter the foyer.
  • The undualting roof and the large glass façades of the water sports centre Aquatics centre really grab the attention.
seele realized a steel-and glass and aluminium-and-glass-construction for the water sport's centre in London.
© Hufton + Crow
Another, internal glass façade seperates the spacious entrance foyer from the swimming area itself.
© Hufton + Crow
Façade specialist seele realized numerous façade solutions to rewuire the U-value for indoor swimming pools.
© Hufton + Crow
seele made an external and internal façade for the Aquatics Centre, as well as the Lobby and sliding doors.
© Hufton + Crow
Wide spacing of the posts and the large-format glazing guarantee unobstructed views of the pools as soon as visitors enter the foyer.
© Hufton + Crow
The undualting roof and the large glass façades of the water sports centre Aquatics centre really grab the attention.
© Hufton + Crow

Credits

Client Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
Main contractor Balfour Beatty Group Ltd
Architect Zaha Hadid Architects
Date of completion 2011
Scope of work by seele

Olympic Mode: Internal and external façades in steel glass and aluminium glass design including lobby and sliding doors

  • Total area: 850sqm
  • Steel tonnage: 325t
     

Legacy Mode: External cantilever steel façades and internal fire protection façade (completion 2013)

  • Total area: 5,600sqm
  • Steel tonage: 100t
Awards
  • Structural Steel Design Awards 2010
  • BCIA Award 2014
  • Silver Medal in recognition of the building's exemplary design and function at international IOC/IAKS Awards