London Velodrome Roof Material

The roof surface is made of 1090 timber cassettes.

London velodrome roof material.

Its structural members and deck are lightweight comprising a tension cable net timber cassette panels and osb. The distinct velodrome roof shape gave it the nickname of the pringle. The environmental strategy required a deep build up of insulation and planning conditions meant that a standing seam cladding system was necessary. 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.

Cycling inspired the concept for the velodrome. Velodrome needed high levels of insulation of the roof. Completed in 2012 in london united kingdom. From the outset a cable net structure.

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. Click here to read a detailed description of how the structure of the velodrome works. This required some very careful thought about the detailing. The hyperbolic paraboloid shape has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track.

London firm hopkins architectshave completed the velodrome the first of the five permanent venues on the olympic park for the london 2012 olympic games. This is reflected in a radical difference in budget 250m vs 95m but also in the technical solutions that were used. Separating the tiers of seating is a glass wall allowing views both in and out of the building. 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.

A further 2 500 seats are suspended in upper tiers within the curves of the venue s roof. However whereas the former contains 3 000 tonnes of steel the velodrome roof is held up with just 100 tonnes. The net itself is made up of pairs of 36 mm diameter. Images by richard davies david poultney anthony charlton anthony palmer hopkins architects.

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. 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.