The National Aquatics Center, also called the "Water Cube,"
the landmark building of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is located inside
the Beijing Olympic Green. It is the venue for swimming, diving, synchronized
swimming and water-polo final during the Olympic Games. The planning
area of the NSC is 62950m2, and the total floor area is 65,000 - 80,000m2,
in which the underground component is not less than 15,000 m2. The total
seating capacity is 17,000, including 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary
for Games. After the Games, the National Aquatics Center will become
the venue for various activities such as aquatic sports, swimming, fitness
and recreation.
The National Aquatics Center is designed by the design consortium consists
of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China State Construction
International (Shenzhen) Design Co., Ltd, PTW Architects (Australia)
and Ove Arup (Australia). The design concept of the "water cube"
combines the symbolisms of the architecture and the unique water bubble
structure, and builds an appropriate complement to the National Stadium.
It is started to build on December 24, 2003 and the concrete and steel
structures was finished in July 2006. The membrane structure of the
outside layer was completed on the morning of December 26. The whole
project has been completed at the end of 2007. The project's ETFE air
cushion structures are used for the first time in China. It is also
the largest and most complicated membrane system in any single project
in the world.
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