London Aquatics Center – Zaha Hadid Architects

The London Aquatics Center is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (164-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stafford, London.

1. LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE
•LONDON,UNITED KINGDOM,UK
•Main Category: Swimming pools and
a diving pool for public
•Architect/CM: Zaha Hadid Architects
•Stories: 7
•Area:15950.0m²
•Floorarea: 20,264m²
•Year:2011
•Building use: Swimming pool
SUBMITTED BY
DHANVEER CHAVDA (2016/70)
SAHAJ RATHOD (036)
PRINCE PATEL (040)
YASH PATEL (052)
HITARTH MORADIYA (064)

2. ➢SITE PLAN
➢CONCEPT
➢OVERVIEW
➢CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
➢FOUNDATION
➢STEEL FRAME STRUCTURE
➢JOINERY DETAIL
➢LOAD DISTRIBUTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT INFORMATION :
➢PLAN ,ELEVATION ,SECTIONS
➢CIRCULATION PATH
➢MATERIALS
➢ROOF DETAILS
➢INTERIOR CELLING
➢SWIMMING POOL DETAILS

3. LOCATION
SITE PLAN

4. Location: Olympic Park,
Stratford,
London

5. •Theconceptbehindtheformofthe
LondonAquaticsCenterwastoa
responsetothefluidmovementof
water.
•Thedesignofthebuildingfocuses
onestablishingapublicusecenter
thatconnectswiththeexisting
context.
•Adesignstrategyemployedby
ZahaHadidistositthepoolhallon
aprogramfilledpodium.
CONCEPT :

7. View of the competition area from
the training hall. Photograph:
Hufton + Crow, London

8. •Construction on the London Aquatic's Centerofficially began in June of 2009. The building
was completed in Olympic Mode in 2011 with spectator seating for upwards of 15,000
people.
•After the Olympic games in 2012 the deconstruction of the additional spectator seating
began. The building was converted to its legacy mode with a capacity of 2,500 in 2013.
•The construction process was an arduous task with precision and accuracy being key to
each stage of construction.
•The complex form of the building required specialized construction. From the careful
structural planning in the wave like roof to the technical planning in the Olympic pools.
•The construction had to be carefully orchestrated in order to meet the schedule and be
finished for the Olympics.
•As well as its unique form and complexity of its structure, the attention to detail in every
aspect of this building makes it an architectural phenomenon.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS :

10. Foundation :
•Foundationconstructionbeganaftertheremediation
processwascompletedandtheelectricaltunnels
werecompleted.Themethodofusingcastinplace
pilesasafoundationtypewaschosenbecausethe
methodhelpedtostabilizethesoilafterthe
remediation.
•Constructiononthesupportsfortheroofstructure
beganatthesametime.Thisensuredthetheground
wasreadywhentheroofconstructionneededto
begin.Duetotheamountofpilesneededroof
constructionhadtobeginbeforeallofthepileswere
putin.

11. Roof rest on Foundation :

12. ➢Connections
•Thebracingfortheroofcreatesagridacrossthe
roofprecisionandplanningwerekey.
•Theroofwasconstructedinstages.First
supportswerebuiltattheendpointofwherea
beamwouldland.Thencraneslifterthepre
fabricatedbeamsuptotheirattachmentpoint
andthebeamwasattached.Afterallthebeams
forthatsectionwereattachedjoistswereadded
forsupport.
➢Supportwhilebuilding
•Extratieswereaddedbetweentheconcrete
roofsupportsduringconstruction.
•Foundationsplateshadtobeputonthe
supportsofthecranestoensurethatthey
wouldn'tsinkintothegroundwitheachbeam
lift.Theroofstructurewasfullybuiltbefore
workontheinteriorspacescouldbegindueto
thesupportsneededforconstruction.Afterthe
roofstructurewasbuiltthepoolconstruction
began.

13. PROCESS

14. •ThereareseverallayersTheconnection
betweencreatedinthetopoftheroof.theroof
andthesupportSheetingandwaterproofing
wereputdownoverthesteelsupports.
Mechanicalsystemwereplacedintothe
space.Spaceswereaddedbeforethefinal
aluminiumsheetingwasadded.Theprocessof
rollingoutthesheetingfortheroofonlytooka
teamof25.Ittookonlyamonthtocoverthe
rooffullywiththelastaluminiumfinish.
•Theconnectionbetweentheroofandthe
supportcolumnsareaslidingjoint.Jointslike
thesearecommonlyfoundinbridges.The
Jointcanslideuptotwofeet.Thisistoallow
forexpansionandcontractionthatoccursin
thesteelroofstructureduetotemperature
changes.

15. Outer connections on
Southern wall can side in
both principle directions
Supporting Southern
concrete wall and
buttresses
Centre connection on
Southern wall can slide along
central axis of building
Supporting Northern
concrete core
Fixed spherical bearings

16. Roof Frame structure :

17. How the roof structure works
•The whole roof structure is supported on just three
points: a wall at the south (1) end and two concrete
cores to the north (2).
•Despite its complex shape the roof is made up from
relatively simple two dimensional elements.
•The fan trusses (3) run in a north-south direction and
are shaped to clear the diving (4) and competition (5)
pools.
•The trusses incline outwards from the centre like a
fan, the two outer trusses (6) act as inclined tied
arches which create two cantilevered wings on either
side of the building for the temporary seating.
South support wall
North support wall
North support point
South support wall
North support point
The primary truss being
craned into position in the
photograph opposite.
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
5 4
6

18. Section diagram depicting the roof loads meeting the supports :
Load diagram illustrating the steel members transferring the loads to the supports :

19. N –S long span trusses
Longitudinal steel members spanning the full length of the roof :

20. Transverse steel members spanning the width of the roof :

21. Sothern diagonal trusses
Northern diagonal trusses
Level 01 Plaza slab tie
Steel diagram highlighting the diagonal trusses and slab tie that works for lateral loading :

22. Kinks is compression loop
create tension in accords
rood
Load diagram of the compression hoop :

23. A diagram showing the angle of the roof form :

24. LOAD DISTRIBUTION :
WIND LOAD DISTRIBUTION :

25. FLOORS :
BASEMENT FLOOR
FIRSTFLOOR
SECONDFLOOR
GROUND FLOOR

26. GROUND FLOOR (OLYMPIC MODE):

27. FIRSTFLOOR (OLYMPIC MODE):

28. SECOND FLOOR (OLYMPIC MODE):

29. ➢FirstFloor:
•Themainentrancesitsonthe
pedestrianbridgeontheleftside
oftheplan.Thisbridgeactsas
theconnectingpointtoother
areasoftheOlympicParkso
havingtheentrancealongthis
pathwaymeansaccessto
thousandsofpeopleduringthe
Olympicevents.Severalgreen
spotsneverconstructed,also
helpdirectpedestriansintothe
building
•Themainentranceiscentrally
locatedalongthenorthernendof
thebuilding,buttherestofthe
circulationpathmovesalongthe
sides.
•Anexteriorpathtravelsagainst
thesideofthebuildingbringing
visitorsfromthegreenwallat
groundlevel,tothemain
entrance.
•Thewalkwaybehindthe
permanentsetofseatsonboth
sidesofthecentregradually
connectstothisexteriorpathby
wayofafewegressesdoors.
•Atotalof8externaldoorswere
installedinthebuilding,only1of
whichisthemainentrance.

30. ➢GroundFloor:
•Thegroundfloorismainlyforthe
athletes'entrancebutthepublic
hasaccessthereaswell.
Throughthisentrance,visitors
canwalkbetweenthetraining
andmaincompetitionpools.
•Ontheopposingsideofthe
entrancearethechanging
rooms,showers,andentranceto
thetrainingpool.
•Themotionofthepublicaround
thebuildingmimicsthefluidity
thearchitectwastryingto
acheive.
•Thelackofvehiculartraffic
allowspedestrianstowander
freelyalongthesiteandtakeone
ofthemanypathsinthepark.and
through
Visitor circulation
Athlete circulation

31. Continuous silver anodised
aluminium facia with reveal detail
at soft junction
Continuous aluminium gutter
incorporating insulated down
pipes and overflow weirs
Insulated kalzipstanding seam
aluminium roof
Pre-weathering FSC certified
red loured rainscreen cladding
and soffit lining
Steel profile stick system
curtain wall glazed facade
Aluminium framed double
glazed sliding door inclined
by 15 degree
Plaza asphalt hard
landscape
Soft landscaping areas
with precast concrete
surrounds
PLAZA
ENTRANCE
Medium beam projector
luminaries focused to
lighting trusses and
grouped in lighting “bubble”
Northern plaza and roof
detail
Permeant seating
Welcome zone in plaza
Athletes entry
& circulation
Steel framof roof
Competition pool
Plant roomSwim tech room
Wheelchair
seating space
Practice poolWater supply channel

32. Longitude section (Olympic mode)
Longitude section (Legacy mode)

34. ROOF MATERIALS :
➢ThefacadeoftheAquaticsCentreroof
wascarefullychosentocomplementI
thegracefulcurvatureofits
geometry.
➢Thefinalchoiceofredlourowas
chosenfortwokeyreasons,interms
ofdurabilitythewoodishighly
moistureresistantandhasnaturally
occurringoilsthatdeterinsectsand
fungi.
➢Thesecondreasonisthatwhen
weatheredthewoodtakesona
reddishgreycolourthatwas
desirabletogivecontinuityfromthe
metalgreysheetsofaluminiumthat
madethetopoftheroof.

35. ➢Aboveisaninsidetooutsidediagramof
howtheredlourpanelswouldhave
beenaffixedtotheAstructureofthe
roof.
1:Theroof'ssteelstructureispreparedwith
connectionpoints.
2:Anenclosurepanelconsistingofa
vapourbarrier,insulation,raftersupport,
plywoodpanelandsecondvapourbarrieris
attachedtothesteelstructure.
3:Aluminiumsubstructurefastenedto
steelstructure.
4:Secondaryaluminiumsubstructure
attachedtotheprimarysubstructure.
5:Claddingfasteningsystemattachedto
aluminiumframework.
6:Claddingboardsattachedtofastening
system.
7:Processrepeateduntilentirefacadeis
covered.

37. INSTALLATION DETAIL OF WOOD ON STEEL FRAME :

38. Concrete structure :
•The superstructureengineering
componentthatremainspubliclyvisible
onthecompletedfacility.Thequality,
visualshape,andappearancewerethe
startingpointforthedevelopmentofthe
structuraldesigntoensurethatall
couldbemetwhilstalsoachievingthe
requiredstructuralperformanceina
safeandbuildablemanner.
•Thereinforcedspanof100ftcrossing
the165fttrainingpool.concretetheonly
concretesuperstructurehasasingle
movementjointwhichseparatesthe
plazabridgestructurefromthe
remainderofthebuilding.
•Theplazabridgestructureisdesigned
asathreespancontinuousportalised
frameandIsapproximately260ftlong
and165ftwideinplanwithacentral.

39. ➢Theroofofthetrainingpooliscastconcretewithanumber
oflargegeometrictrainingpoolwasnotusedforany
eventsintheOlympicGamesfilmingwasnotanissue
cellingcoffers.Astheandassuchpermanentlightingwas
Installed.Alayeroflightdiffusingfabric,thatdoublesas
anacousticbuffer,sitsabovethefluorescentcoffers,
backlitwithluminairesThislightinggvesasky-lit
ambiencetothepool.
TRAINNING POOL CELLING :

40. Concentrated atmosphere: swimmers can
prepare for the competition in the training
pool under the pedestrian access bridge.

41. ➢DIVINGBOARDS:
•Thedramaticslopingoftheconcrete
walladdsaperfectbackdropforthe
reinforcedconcretediveboards.
•Eachboardwasplacedthrew
surroundingslabintothepiled
foundationcap4mbelowpoollevel.
thepoollevel.
•Withthisuniquegeometrycameanew
setofchallenges.Structural,stability,
deflection,vibration,andaesthetic
appearanceallneededtobe
considered.

42. •Thereare3poolsintheLondonAquaticsCentre,a50m
competitionpool,a25mdivingpoolandaI50mtraining
pool.The50mcompetitionpoolis3metersdeepbuthas
amovablebasethatcanbequicklyraisedorloweredto
changethedepthofpool.
•Thedivingpoolalsohasamovablefloorbutusually
operatesat5metersdepthexceptwhencateringfor
elitetrainingorcompetition.Thereareatotalof12diving
boardsavailablewithheightsrangingfrom1mtoa
maximumof10meters.
50m competition pool50m training pool 25m diving pool

43. ATTACH DOCUMENT/VIDEOS :
➢Construction of roof time lapses
➢Sketch up walkthrough
➢Interior videos