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    Builder appointed for major Olympic Park venue

    Builder appointed for major Olympic Park venue

    26 Mar 2009
    The contractor has been appointed to build the London 2012 Handball Arena, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced.

    Handball Arena

    Artist's impression of the Handball Arena during the Games
    Buckingham Group Contracting won the contract through a highly competitive public procurement process and work is on track to start this summer.

    During the Games the Arena will host Handball preliminaries and quarter-finals, as well as Modern Pentathlon disciplines of Fencing and Shooting. It will also be the venue for Goalball during the Paralympic Games.

    After the Games, the Arena will become a new multi-sports facility able to host a wide range of sporting activities. It will be available for community use, athlete training and small- to medium-scale events.

    The Handball Arena design features external copper cladding to give it a distinctive appearance that will develop a rich natural colour as it ages. In addition the venue has a vibrant and multi-coloured interior, with retractable seating to create a flexible space. It also has 100 ‘light pipes’ in the ceiling to allow natural light into the venue.

    Olympic Delivery Authority Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘This appointment takes us a step closer towards a simple, sustainable and flexible Handball Arena that works for Games and legacy. The Arena will provide a great experience for competitors and spectators during the Games and offer a new facility for local people to enjoy a range of sports in legacy.’

    Read the full media release