Design shortlist unveiled for sporting 'hub' in north of the Olympic Park

Eton Manor is the former site of a community sports centre, but has remained dilapidated and disused since 2001. The site will be transformed to provide a range of sporting facilities in the north of the Olympic Park adapted to accommodate different uses across Olympic, Paralympic and Legacy modes:

Olympic Mode: the site will provide temporary facilities for Gymnastic and Aquatic athlete training

Paralympic Mode: the site will host the Paralympic Archery and Wheelchair Tennis events programme. The site will include a Paralympic Archery field of play with temporary seating for 3,000 spectators, and 9 competition tennis courts with temporary seating for spectators

Legacy Mode: the site will provide a flexible sporting legacy including a Hockey centre, tennis facilities and other multi-purpose sports facilities

The design contract for the Eton Manor venues and facilities was put out to tender in August and a seven-strong shortlist of teams has now been selected:

• Adjaye Associates Ltd;
• Bennetts Associates Architects;
• David Morley Architects;
• Opus International Consultants;
• S&P Ltd;
• Sport Concepts;
• Stanton Williams.

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the ODA said:

'The Eton Manor site will be transformed to deliver world-class venues and facilities fit for the Olympic and Paralympic stage, while leaving a significant sporting legacy in the north of the Olympic Park for generations to come. Design excellence will play a key role in the regeneration of Eton Manor so the announcement of such a high quality shortlist of design teams is an important step forwards.'

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee, said:

'Eton Manor will provide key facilities and venues for the best athletes in the world in 2012 while also leaving the legacy of state-of-the-art sports facilities for Londoners to use and enjoy. These shortlisted design teams have a great chance to play their part in transforming this key part of the Olympic Park with world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local communities alike.'

The Eton Manor site will include a mixture of both temporary and permanent buildings to meet the ODA’s commitments to sustainable design. In legacy, the venues and facilities at Eton Manor will join the world-class cycling facilities in the VeloPark and the renovated Hackney marshes to create a sporting hub in the north of the Olympic Park for the local community and elite athletes. As well as the new sporting facilities, the ODA will also be building two new land bridges to better connect Eton Manor with the surrounding area.

The Eton Manor design contract is expected to be awarded early next year.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700.

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