Olympic Stadium Architects to Set Agenda on Sustainability

July 18, 2012

In the week that the Olympic Games come to London, Populous, the designers of the Olympic Stadium, will renew the discussion on the importance of sustainability and the impact of stadia on their local community, as well as sharing unique insights into the development of the Olympic Stadium.

Populous will explore the position of a stadium as a community hub at the Beyond Sport Summit, as well as begin a new partnership with global organisation Beyond Sport that will see it work with community projects on the ground around the world. Populous has also donated the very first sketch of the London 2012 Olympic Stadium to the Beyond Sport Foundation. The unique sketch will be auctioned to raise funds to support projects on the ground.

John Barrow, Senior Principal at Populous, will also join the Beyond Sport Advisory Panel, bringing his insight and experience to the global organisation on a year-round basis.

He commented: “Our team at Populous is at the leading-edge of sports facility design with projects around the world, including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We strongly believe that our projects can have a major impact on the lives of people, bringing new opportunities to participate in sport at all levels, improving health, education and community spirit.

“Our message is to encourage our children to embrace sport at an early age, so that their lives can benefit from the teamwork, ideas and experience that sport offers. Populous is delighted to join Beyond Sport in 2012.”

Populous’ extensive portfolio of world-famous venues also includes Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium, which will host Beyond Football on 24th July as part of the Beyond Sport Summit.

Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal’s Chief Executive Officer, said of the event: “We are looking forward to being involved in the Beyond Football event at Emirates Stadium and showcasing some of the club’s fantastic work in the local and international community. Arsenal Football Club has always been committed to giving more young people the chance to fulfil their potential, both on and off the pitch, and the launch of The Arsenal Foundation earlier this year will enable us to continue our long-serving tradition of giving back to the community.”

Nick Keller, Founder of Beyond Sport, added: “A stadium can be much more than just a building. The emotional connection fans feel with their home venues is an important part of sport, and a stadium can have a transformative effect on a local community – something that should  be a consideration from the moment the first pencil touches the page in the design process.”

The Beyond Sport Summit & Awards 2012 will be staged in London from 23rd to 25th July 2012. Beyond Sport’s global partners are Barclays Spaces for Sports, Time and UNICEF. For more information, visit www.beyondsport.org

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