The international sports architecture firm, HOK Sport + Venue + Event continues to expand its Asian operation following its success in winning the contract to design one of the biggest sports projects in Asia – the US$250M Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, in Jiangsu Province, China.
The Olympic Sports complex is to be completed in three years in time for the 2005 China National Games. Buildings include:
*60,000 seat stadium
*11,000 seat indoor arena
*Olympic standard aquatic centre
*20 court tennis centre
*Outdoor facilities for hockey, baseball and basketball
The Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre forms the centerpiece of a new downtown precinct development to the West of Nanjing, the historic capital of China. The integration of the sports complex into the new Downtown illustrates the significance of how sport can lead the way in urban redevelopment.
The project was won from the Brisbane office of HOK Sport + Venue + Event in a design competition involving 40 international practices. HOK Sport’s involvement in the design of Stadium Australia for the 2000 summer Olympics and the facilities at Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympics was highly regarded in the selection process.
Paul Henry, senior principal of HOK Sport, said that in terms of scale and quality of facilities, the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, worth RMB 1.5 billion, would be one of the world’s premier master plans for modern sports complexes.
‘This is a strategically important project as China continues its development as a global citizen and we see the emergence of Chinese sport onto the world stage,’ said Mr Henry.
‘The eyes of the world will be on China during the next few years and the completion of the project in 2005 places it in a key position in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics three years later,’ he said. It also shows the key place sports development will have in the Asian region.
‘Conceptually the project breaks new ground. This complex is designed for both major event and non-event usage. This has been achieved by firstly positioning the buildings closer together than ever before within the sports complex. Secondly, pedestrian and public access to the sports buildings has been separated completely from vehicular access. The basements of all the buildings are connected, and servicing can be carried out on all buildings at the same time, while on the ground level pedestrians can walk easily everywhere.
‘This is a major step forward in interconnectivity. It is an excellent example of a masterplan of a Sports complex that has considered Overlay, i.e. the design of a major event, within the masterplan,’ said Mr Henry.
The Provincial Jiangsu Government believes the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre will be the model and catalyst for the development of a new city centre, the Hexi Second Downtown Precinct, a vibrant commercial, cultural and entertainment district designed to serve the people of Nanjing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
HOK Sport, with key offices in Kansas City, London and Brisbane, directs all its Australian and Asian work from its Brisbane office. Current projects from the Queensland office include Beijing Olympic advisory services, and design partnerships for the redevelopment of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, the Taipei Arena in Taiwan and the new Suncorp Metway Stadium at Lang Park, in Brisbane Australia.
For further information please contact:
Michele Fleming
Associate Principal,
HOK Sport Asia.
T: 61 7 32102530
M: 61 411 246 141
F: 61 7 32102540
E: Michele.fleming@hok.com