The 2008 Beijing Olympics haven't even begun, and already there's buzz about the 2012 London Olympics. The plans for the flatpack stadium were unveiled and they're quite remarkable, and make perfect sense. Billions of dollars are invested into Olympic architecture by host cities, but they're often rarely used after the events end. The new flatpack stadium, however, is meant to be relocated for reuse. Their hope is that the 2016 host (possibly Chicago) will use it for their Olympic games.
"55,000 seats from London's 80,000-seat arena could be transported to Washington Park in the Illinois city and used to enlarge a planned, 7,500-capacity community arena into Chicago's main Olympic stadium," the Guardian explains.
"The tactic of recycling the Olympic stadium has been billed as the first step in a new approach to the games, which could become more like a travelling circus to keep costs down and allow poorer countries to play host. Baku in Azerbaijan, Rio de Janeiro and Prague are also bidding for the 2016 games alongside Tokyo, Madrid, and Doha in Qatar."
The stadium would be built in order to accommodate disassembly and transportation by cargo ship as well as the ability to hold up well in other climates.
Look at some of the structures Beijing had built for the games:
Flatpack Stadiums
2012 London Olympics Architecture
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Architecture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop sustainable and reusable stadium structures for major events, reducing costs and environmental impact.
2. Modular Construction - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore modular construction techniques for stadiums, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and relocation.
3. Event Mobility - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement a traveling circus approach for major events, enabling cost-effective hosting in different locations.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with architects and designers to create innovative and sustainable stadium structures.
2. Construction - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop modular construction methods and materials specifically for stadiums.
3. Event Management - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a platform or service that facilitates the mobility and logistics of hosting major events in different locations.