Steel structure keeps Velodrome on track

Work has been completed on the steel structure of the London 2012 Velodrome, keeping it on track to be the first venue to be finished in the Olympic Park in early 2011.

The 6,000 seat Velodrome will host the Olympic track cycling events, and after the Games it will be used by elite athletes and the local community.

Approximately 1,000t of steel has been erected on the project by Watson Steel Structures, working on behalf of main contractor ISG. The steelwork sections rise in height by 12m from the shallowest point to the highest part of the structure, helping form the distinct double curved roof structure which has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track.

Work is now underway to install the venue roof which consists of one of the largest cable net roof lifts in the UK, using some 16km of cable. The venue is also one of the most sustainable structures in the Olympic Park and the lightweight roof will only weigh 30kg per m², roughly half that of any other covered Velodrome, helping create a highly efficient building.