Velodrome, London

The form of the Velodrome is truly a sum of the parts, the design forming element by element; the track, permanent seating, temporary seating, public concourse, façade, roof structure… Each element designed to work seamlessly together with structural and environmental efficiency.

The in-situ concrete for the vertical faces and soffits of the public concourse has a fair-faced finish to maximise the thermal mass of the concrete; provide economy of both materials and cost; and for its robustness and consequent low maintenance.

The lower tier of seating uses precast concrete terracing to provide 3,500 seats trackside. A further 2,500 seats are suspended in upper tiers within the curves of the venue’s roof. Separating the tiers of seating is a glass wall, allowing views both in and out of the building.

Concrete was also used for the ‘bowl’ in which the track sits as well as post-tensioned piers and the foundations of the structure. The mass and strength of this concrete is an important part of the Velodrome structure and is necessary to resist the tension of the roof cables.

The aim of the Velodrome was to create the world’s fastest cycling track by tailoring the track geometry and setting the temperature and environmental conditions within the venue to create record-breaking conditions.

Although the concrete at the Velodrome may be quite understated its thermal mass is essential to the natural ventilation strategy of the Velodrome and the robustness of concrete is essential to its structural integrity.