London 2012 Olympics Velodrome, London, UK

Overview

The design concept for the building sought to recreate the efficiency of the bicycle in its engineering design, not through mimicry, but eliminating all but the essential.

One of the key challenges posed to the engineering of systems and environmental performance of the Velodrome was to contribute to the design of the fastest track in the world, providing stable and slightly higher temperatures for the cyclists, whilst keeping spectators comfortable throughout the year.

Key Design Features

Design geared around two primary modus operandi - general ‘Training’ mode (majority of the year - 245 days/year) and ‘Competition’ mode (around 20 days/year). This helped define number and plant selection (larger number of smaller units) coupled with appropriate control strategies, thus substantially reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
100% natural ventilation to majority of accommodation, including the main cycling arena.
Extensive daylight studies undertaken to configure most appropriate skylight/roof design. Cycling arena is naturally daylit during daytime hours, whilst in ‘Training’ operational mode; this accounts for majority of the year.
Energy saving - 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to baseline (2012 figures) without recourse to any renewable technologies.
Water saving - 40% reduction in potable water based on industry standards (2012 figures); this was achieved primarily by harvesting rainwater, via the extensive roof and greywater treatment.
Design challenge - cyclists want warm and humid air (min 24°C; ideally 28°C) with minimal air movement, so as to break speed records, whilst spectators prefer cooler temperatures (between 18°C and 26°C) with good air movement.