London Velodrome Roof Material

The final solution is so efficient that the weight of the steel in the roof equates to an average of 30kg m 2 about 35 less than the next best comparable venue in the world.

London velodrome roof material.

Cycling inspired the concept for the velodrome. The environmental strategy required a deep build up of insulation and planning conditions meant that a standing seam cladding system was necessary. Completed in 2012 in london united kingdom. Its structural members and deck are lightweight comprising a tension cable net timber cassette panels and osb.

London 2012 velodrome the size of the roof circa. It also achieves elegance in its economy of means and materials its integration with the overall design its speed of erection and its low cost. From the outset a cable net structure. Click here to read a detailed description of how the structure of the velodrome works.

Velodrome needed high levels of insulation of the roof. 13 500m means that it governs the structural response of the whole building. The net itself is made up of pairs of 36 mm diameter. Up on the roof the perfection of the velodrome s design is manifest a grid like web of steel cables that run taut from dozens of attachment points on a perimeter frame of steel tubing.

This required some very careful thought about the detailing. However whereas the former contains 3 000 tonnes of steel the velodrome roof is held up with just 100 tonnes. Separating the tiers of seating is a glass wall allowing views both in and out of the building. London firm hopkins architectshave completed the velodrome the first of the five permanent venues on the olympic park for the london 2012 olympic games.

A further 2 500 seats are suspended in upper tiers within the curves of the venue s roof. The hyperbolic paraboloid shape has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track. Added to that the oda planners wanted an aluminium standing seam roof surface which is attractive and long lasting but rigid with large thermal movements. The roof surface is made of 1090 timber cassettes.

The velodrome has a double curvature roof which helps to minimise volume and heating costs. The lower tier of seating uses precast concrete terracing to provide 3 500 seats trackside. The roofs of the 2012 aquatics centre and velodrome are of a similar shape and size.