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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Coordinates:51°32′46″N0°00′46″W/ 51.54615°N 0.01269°W/51.54615; -0.01269
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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Aerial view of the park in October 2022
Aerial view of the park in October 2022
Map of the park in 2012
Map of the park in 2012
Coordinates:51°32′46″N0°00′46″W/ 51.54615°N 0.01269°W/51.54615; -0.01269
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
RegionGreater London
DistrictsNewham,Tower Hamlets,Waltham Forest,Hackney
City districtsStratford,Old Ford,Leyton,Hackney Wick
Time zoneUTC0(UTC)
• Summer (DST)UTC+1(BST)
Postcode
E20
Websitequeenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Full nameQueen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Former namesOlympic Park
(2012 Summer Olympics)
Main venueLondon Stadium
Capacity:
  • 62,500 (regulated capacity)[1]
  • 66,000 (seated capacity) (sports)[2]
  • 80,000 (concerts)[3]
Other sports facilitiesAquatics Centre
Copper Box Arena
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Lee Valley VeloPark
OperatorLondon Legacy Development Corporation
Construction
Built2008–2011
Opened2012

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Parkis a sporting complex and public park inStratford,Hackney Wick,LeytonandBow,in eastLondon.It was purpose-built for the2012 Summer OlympicsandParalympics,situated adjacent to theStratford Citydevelopment. It contains theOlympic stadium,now known as the London Stadium, and theOlympic swimming pooltogether with the athletes'Olympic Villageand several other Olympic sporting venues and theLondon Olympics Media Centre.The park is overlooked by theArcelorMittal Orbit,an observation tower and Britain's largest piece of public art.

It was simply calledThe Olympic Parkduring the Games but was later renamed to commemorate theDiamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II[4](though it is not an officialRoyal Park of London).[5]The park occupies an area straddling four east London boroughs;Newham,Tower Hamlets,HackneyandWaltham Forest.Part of the park reopened in July 2013,[6]while a large majority of the rest (including the Aquatics Centre,Veloparkand Orbit observation tower) reopened in April 2014.[7]

Location

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The site covers parts ofStratford,Bow,Leyton,andHackney Wickineast London,overlooking theA12 road.The site was previously a mixture ofgreenfieldandbrownfieldland, including parts ofHackney Marshes.[8]

TheRoyal Mailgave the park and Stratford City the postcodeE20,which had previously only appeared in the televisionsoap operaEastEndersfor the fictional suburb ofWalford.[9]

On 2 August 2011, it was announced the five neighbourhoods of housing and amenities (anti-clockwise from north-east) are:

These names have relevant history in the area.[10]All four of the East London boroughs covering the park as such have a neighbourhood except forWaltham Forest.

History

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Design

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The park was designed by the EDAW Consortium (includingEDAW,Allies and MorrisonandBuro Happold), working withArupandWS Atkins.Detailed landscape architecture was by LDA Design in conjunction with Hargreaves Associates. LDA design contracted Wallace Whittle to carry out various aspects of the M+E Building services design. The NHBC carried out the Sustainability assessments. The park was illuminated with a lighting scheme[11]designed by Speirs + Major.[12]

London's Olympic and Paralympic bidproposed that there would be four indoor arenas in the park in addition to the main venues, but the revisedmaster planpublished in 2006 reduced this to three, with thevolleyball eventsmoved to theEarls Court Exhibition Centre.[13]Thefencingarena was also cancelled, with thefencing eventstaking place atExCeL London.The remaining indoor arenas are theBasketball Arenaand theCopper Box,in addition to theWater Polo Arena,theAquatics Centre,and theVelopark.The final design of the park was approved by theOlympic Delivery Authorityand its planning-decisions committee.

Legacy List charity

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The Legacy List is the independent charity for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, set up in 2011 to support the legacy of the Games. Their mission is to make creative connections between people and the Park by developing, commissioning and supporting high quality art, education and skill building initiatives, to engage, educate and inspire current and future generations.[14]

Construction

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During its construction over 80,000 workers were engaged on the project.[15]The construction of the Olympic Park was managed by CLM Delivery Partner, comprising CH2M Hill, Laing O'Rourke and Mace. CLM specifically managed the "white" space between the venue construction zones, including managing the internal road network. To enable the major phase of construction to begin, the 52electricity pylons,up to 65 metres (213 feet) high, that dominated the landscape in and around the park were removed and the power transferred through the newLower Lea Valley Cable Tunnelsconstructed by Murphy. Also there was a Roman village underground when they were digging it up[16]Following site clearance, the soil across the Park site was cleaned down to a human health layer, by soil washing.[citation needed]

Constituent sections of the park

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In addition, at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic games:

  • The London Aquatics Centre with the ArcelorMittal Orbit on the right
    TheLondon Aquatics Centrewith theArcelorMittal Orbiton the right
  • Lee Valley VeloPark
    Lee Valley VeloPark
  • Olympic gardens in front of the River Lea and its tributary the City Mill River
    Olympic gardens in front of the River Lea and its tributary the City Mill River
  • Northern Parklands with the River Lea, looking south
    Northern Parklands with the River Lea, looking south
  • Northern Parklands with the River Lea, looking south
    Northern Parklands with the River Lea, looking south
  • The park looking south from Eastcross Bridge
    The park looking south from Eastcross Bridge

Post-Olympics

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Further information:London 2012 Olympic Legacy
TheArcelorMittal Orbit.

The park has been given over to a number of current and planned uses after the London 2012 Summer Olympics finished, such as:[17][18]

East Bank

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Shells of two buildings under construction by cranes. One is composed of rectangular blocks, the other is more angular
V&A East and UAL building construction in April 2023

As of January 2021, several arts and creativity institutions are constructing outposts at the park as part of a £1.1billion[26][27]development,[28][29]including:

Stratford Cross

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Stratford Crossis a new commercial district inStratford, East London,which hosted theLondon 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.[33]It will be a mixed-use development,[34]with a total investment of in excess of £1.3 billion, and will be delivered byLend LeaseandLondon and Continental Railwaysin a 50/50 joint venture.[35]

Stratford Cross will include 4 million sq ft of commercial office space,[36]330 homes known as Glasshouse Gardens and a new hotel.[37]The area is accessible viaStratford station.

Subsequent international sporting events

[edit]

Although the sporting venues in the park were reduced in scale after the conclusion of London 2012, part of the legacy is to ensure the continued use of those facilities that are permanent, as local and community resources and for major international sporting events that make use of the world class facilities constructed for the Olympics and Paralympics:

Resident sports clubs

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In addition to the use of the venues for international events, some of them are intended for use on a regular basis by amateur and professional sports teams in various sports.

On 11 February 2011,West Ham Unitedwere selected as preferred bidders, ahead ofTottenham Hotspur,to take over theOlympic Stadiumas a football venue after the end of the games. However, five days laterLeyton OrientchairmanBarry Hearnannounced that he would be challenging the decision to allow West Ham to relocate to the stadium, as he believed that having West Ham playing within one mile (1.6 kilometres) of theirBrisbane Roadstadium could cost Orient support and even their existence.[47]Incidentally, Hearn had expressed interest some years earlier in moving Orient to Olympic Park and reducing its capacity to 25,000 seats,[48]while West Ham would cut the capacity to 60,000 if their relocation went ahead.[49]Tottenham Hotspuralso pursued legal action over the decision and eventually the deal withWest Hamcollapsed due to legal pressure on 11 October 2011.West Hamdid go on to win the later tenancy bid and began using the stadium from the start of the2016–17 football seasonas the main tenant.[50]

The Copper Box was the only permanent indoor arena remaining after the end of London 2012. Built primarily for use in thehandballandgoalballcompetitions, it was converted to a multi-use venue that will include use forbasketball.As a result of the owners of thePrestige Homes ArenainMilton Keynesterminating their lease, theLondon Lionsbasketball club, after a season at theNational Sports Centre,Selhurst,relocated to the Copper Box for the2013-14 BBL season.[51]

The Lee Valley Hockey Centre was born from a revamp of theOlympic Legacy Hockey Facility.The facility is the current ground ofWapping Hockey Club.[52]The centre includes 2 state-of-the-art hockey pitches and is operated by theLee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Following the demolition of the original warm-up track after the end of the Olympics, a new six-lane facility, theLondon Marathon Community Track,was constructed on the south side of the Olympic Stadium, for use both as a community venue and as a new home forNewham and Essex Beagles Athletic Clubfollowing the2017 World Championships.[53]Football side Altis FC, members of theAmateur Football Combination,are based at the stadium.[54]

Concerts

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In January 2013, music concert promoterLive Nationwon the right to stage shows at the stadium and in the surrounding park. The park hosted the music events in July 2013, but the stadium was not used.[55]The former site of theRiverbank Arenawas used to stage theHard Rock Calling,WirelessandElectric Daisy Carnivalfestivals.[56][57]

The stadium has since hostedvarious concerts,includingGuns N' Roses,AC/DCandRobbie Williams.

In 2021,ABBAbegan construction of a purpose-built arena in the Olympic Park, called the ABBA Arena, for amotion-capture hologram concert residencywhich would take place from May 2022. The announcement of the arena's construction and purpose took place during aYouTubelivestream to announce the release of their albumVoyage.[58]

Transport

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Railway stations

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London Buses

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Bus stations

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Stratford City bus station

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Important supporter update – capacity increase, West Stand reconfiguration & 2022/23 ticketing | West Ham United F.C."whufc.
  2. ^"London Stadium capacity clarification".West Ham United F.C. 19 November 2018.
  3. ^"About London Stadium".London Stadium.Retrieved22 November2021.
  4. ^Games Site Renamed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic ParkBBC News, 7 October 2010; Retrieved 12 May 2012
  5. ^Minton, Anna (2012).Ground Control(2nd ed.). Penguin. Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2012.Retrieved25 June2012.
  6. ^Traci Watson (24 July 2013)."A year after London Games, Olympic Park reopens".USA i t has helped many Today.Retrieved27 July2013.
  7. ^"The Park | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park".Retrieved27 April2014.
  8. ^Protest stirs in troubled east– Paul Kelso inThe Guardian,15 February 2005, date accessed: 30 October 2006
  9. ^Olympic Park To Share EastEnders' Walford E20 PostcodeBBC News, 19 March 2011; Retrieved 12 May 2012
  10. ^"London 2012 Olympic Park Neighbourhood Names Revealed".BBC News. 2 August 2011.
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  12. ^"SPEIRS MAJOR LIGHT ARCHITECTURE".Smlightarchitecture.Retrieved7 July2022.
  13. ^"London Unveils Olympic Masterplan".BBC Sport. 7 June 2006.Retrieved16 July2012.
  14. ^"Other legacy organisations | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park".Queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk.Retrieved8 December2016.
  15. ^"HRSID London Olympic Park Project Stats".hrsid.Retrieved19 December2013.
  16. ^Last pylon removed from Olympic Park as £250m powerlines project delivered on time and to budgetArchived4 January 2013 atarchive.todayLondon 2012, 9 December 2008
  17. ^Building London 2012Archived25 May 2012 atarchive.todayLondon 2012
  18. ^Gourlay, Chris (19 April 2009)."University To Be Built in London Olympic Park".The Times.[dead link](subscription required)
  19. ^"Cameron Reveals Silicon Valley Vision for East London".BBC News. 3 November 2010.Retrieved16 July2012.
  20. ^"London Games Promises Beautiful Green Legacy".London Press Service.1 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2018.Retrieved27 June2012.
  21. ^Last Stand on Olympic AllotmentsBBC News, 24 September 2007; Retrieved 16 July 2012
  22. ^Brown, Mark (31 March 2010)."Climb This: Anish Kapoor's Massive Artwork That Will Tower over London".guardian.co.uk.
  23. ^Olympic Museum To Be Opened on Olympic Park after London 2012Inside the Games, 27 February 2012
  24. ^Exclusive: London Olympic museum plans shelvedInside the Games, 24 July 2013
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  28. ^abSimons, Justine (25 September 2019)."East Bank London: The capital's new arts district is London's most exciting opening".Harper's BAZAAR.Retrieved19 January2021.
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  31. ^"UCL officially opens new east London campus".UCL.18 September 2023.Retrieved22 October2023.
  32. ^Veerle Versteeg (25 May 2023)."UAL creates cultural programme at new LCF campus on London's East Bank".Fashion United.
  33. ^TIQ Stratford City."Stratford Renaissance Partnership"Archived24 February 2014 at theWayback Machine,Lend Lease.Retrieved on 27 January 2014.
  34. ^Unattributed."East London's Glasshouse Gardens launches in Singapore"Archived17 February 2014 at theWayback Machine,Property Report.Retrieved on 27 January 2014.
  35. ^Morby, Aaron."Lend Lease London Stratford resi towers approved",Construction Enquirer.Retrieved on 27 January 2014.
  36. ^NLA."The International Quarter"Archived24 February 2014 at theWayback Machine,NLA.Retrieved on 27 January 2014.
  37. ^Starboard Hotels."TIQ Stratford – New East London Hotel Development"Archived24 February 2014 at theWayback Machine,Starboard Hotels.Retrieved on 27 January 2014.
  38. ^"Olympic Stadium to host Diamond League meeting".BBC Sport.Retrieved7 February2013.
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  42. ^Olympic Stadium set to host 2017 World Paralympic Championships.The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved on 17 July 2013.
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  51. ^"REVEALED: Lions to leave Milton Keynes for Olympic Park in London".Milton Keynes Citizen. 9 August 2012.Retrieved11 September2012.
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  53. ^"The future of the Stadium".Archived fromthe originalon 31 October 2014.Retrieved23 November2014.
  54. ^[1]
  55. ^Mark Sweney (22 January 2013)."Live Nation strikes deal to exclusively host gigs at Olympic Stadium".The Guardian.Retrieved17 July2013.
  56. ^"Live Nation secures Olympic Park for concerts".BBC News.22 January 2013.Retrieved17 July2013.
  57. ^Insomniac Events (5 April 2013)."EDC London 2013 Official Trailer".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021.Retrieved6 September2017.
  58. ^ABBA Voyage - LIVE,2 September 2021,archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021,retrieved2 September2021
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