The design of the 2024 Olympic venue is a collaboration between the architects VenhoevenCS and Atelier 2/3/4 and schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) for structure and facades. It was the result of a Design-Build competition won by the project consortium, and led by the main contractor Bouygues.
The sports center features technical innovations and ambitious structural works – including the 89 m long timber catenary roof as well as the 18 m wide footbridge, connecting the building to the famous Stade de France. The multifunctional venue in Olympic configuration accommodates a 50 m pool as well as a diving pool. During the Olympic Games, it was used for water polo, synchronized swimming, diving and, during the Paralympics, for boccia.
A key design consideration was the project’s sustainability goals. An efficient lightweight timber tensile form was chosen to minimize the structural material in the roof. The customized concave geometry of the roof closely matches required usable area of the indoor swimming pool to reduce the volume of the hall, leading to corresponding energy savings for heating a smaller space. The roof structure is fitted with photovoltaic panels that generate 25% of the sports facility’s total electricity requirements.
All the visible structural elements in the hall are made of timber, with glue-laminated spruce specified for all interior primary structural elements and catenary elements, and glue-laminated Douglas fir for the exterior exposed elements.
