2012 Aquatics Centre takes shape
The new Aquatics Centre for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is starting to take shape after work got underway on lifting the 2,800-tonne wave-shaped roof into place.
The lifting of the 11,000sq m (118,403sq ft) roof, which is 160m (525ft) long, is considered to be the most complex engineering challenges of all the Olympic venues. Balfour Beatty is the contractor responsible for building the new aquatics centre, which will have a capacity of 17,500 during the Games before being reduced to 2,500 when it is converted for legacy use. The facility was designed by architect Zaha Hadid.
Sebastian Coe, chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: "The design of the roof is iconic and will be one of the lasting images of the London 2012 Games. The lifting of the roof demonstrates strong progress in the Park. The Aquatics Centre will deliver a legacy of world-class swimming venue for elite and community use."