In addition to the new permanent sporting venue, an entirely new network of utilities has been constructed in and around the Olympic Park. Hundreds of kilometres pipes and cables for gas, electricity, water, sewerage and telecommunications have been installed across the Park. Facilities have been built for the efficient generation and transmission of energy, and to recycle and treat water to reduce the use of drinking water during the Games. This new infrastructure will also support the development of new communities in and around the Park after the Games.
Energy Centre
London 2012 Games
Provides efficient low-carbon heating and cooling to the venues and buildings across the Olympic Park, and heating and hot water to the Olympic and Paralympic Village
After the Games
Continues to operate and power the permanent venues, as well as the new buildings and communities that will be developed in the area – removing the need for individual boilers in new homes
Construction
August 2008 – October 2010
Facts
Designed to be a community landmark in the tradition of London’s Battersea and Bankside power stations.
Innovative biomass boilers use sustainable fuels such as woodchip to generate heat and deliver low-carbon energy.
Part of the Energy Centre is housed in a renovated Edwardian sweets factory – the only original building retained from the Olympic Park site as it was prior to construction.
The Centre has a flexible modular design, so that extra capacity and new technology can be added when demand increases once the area is further developed after the Games.
The Energy Centre, which was delivered through a private sector partner, provides hot and chilled water to venues around the Olympic Park and the Olympic and Paralympic Village, and makes a major contribution to the ODA’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent.
Primary Substation
London 2012 Games
Distributes electricity efficiently from the wider national network to the venues around the Olympic Park and the Stratford City development
After the Games
Along with the Energy Centre, will help to power the local area and support future developments
Construction
December 2007 – October 2009
Facts
The substation distributes electricity through 100km of new electrical cabling – the same length as 250 laps of the Olympic Stadium.
It has a ‘brown roof’ made with reused crushed materials, which will encourage local wildlife to make it their home.
More than 130,000 bricks were used in the construction of the substation.
Where possible, material from the demolition of buildings in the nearby Kings Yard has been reused in the substation’s construction.
The building won the 2010 Royal Institute of British Architects ‘Commercial and Industrial Building of the Year’.
Pumping Station
London 2012 Games
Collects, conveys and removes waste water from the main venues and buildings on the Olympic Park
After the Games
Continues serving the local area
Construction
June 2008 – January 2010
Facts
The circular building was designed to reflect the Pumping Station’s sewer shafts.
A 16m-deep underground shaft connects the station with 1.8km of new sewer tunnels that run under the Olympic Park.
The outside of the building features drawings depicting the history and Victorian origins of London’s sewer network.
A blue light at the top of the 12m-high ventilation tower creates a ‘beacon’ in the south of the Park.
Construction workers nicknamed the two pink tanks Pinky and Perky, after two children’s TV characters.