Former London Olympic Stadium transformed

The transformation of the iconic former London Olympic Stadium has been finalised, following a host of innovative engineering works undertaken by infrastructure specialist Balfour Beatty.

The scheme, which first commenced in January 2014 on behalf of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), has played a significant role in the regeneration of the former Olympic Stadium, and has enabled West Ham United Football Club to make use of the multi-purpose venue in time for the 2016/2017 season.

Sustainable measures included the reuse of over 6,000 metres of cabling, 3,800 lights and 1,000 mechanical and electrical components, as well as the incorporation of 19,000 tonnes of recycled demolition material.

In what amounts to a modern day feat of engineering, the works required the installation of the world’s heaviest anti-gravity roof – twice the size of the original – while the once iconic lighting towers have been reintegrated into the stadium proper.

At its peak, 1,700 people were employed on-site – culminating in an astonishing 3.4 million man hours worked.

Boosting the local economy through the use of the local supply chain has long been a priority for Balfour Beatty and LLDC both. In line with the Company’s commitment to the 5% club, Balfour Beatty also created 50 local apprenticeships across a range of trades, in addition to ten work placements and more than 300 training opportunities.

Stephen Tarr, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s major projects business said: “From the very beginning we were focused on continuing the legacy of this historic venue, transforming it from its original use of a single-purpose venue to a multi-functional world-class venue providing numerous opportunities and uses for generations to come.

“We have utilised some of the most complex engineering techniques on this project, capitalising on our in-house capabilities and expertise to ensure the project was delivered safely to a high specification, whilst boosting the local economy through employment opportunities; it’s a project we are all immensely proud of.”

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