CABE’s Olympic panel has approved the revised IBC and MPC architectural design which includes some alterations to the previous design. On April 2009, CABE criticized the architecture for Olympic media center as ‘extremely weak’. The architects for the IBC and MPC are RPS and Allies and Morrison respectively.
The design watchdog has been impressed by the introduction of a new cladding system for the center’s car park and the additional work on the facades of the main two blocks – IBC and MPC. The new façade design is said to be more ‘rigorous’, according to the design panel.
The panel has supported the move to use colored fabric and profiled metal cladding to cover projecting elements. CABE also commented that the success and utilization of the structure after the games can be assured only by dividing up the mega structure into separate buildings with open frontages.
The panel is also impressed by the appearance of the structure thanks to the deployment of colored louvers and the alternate rain screen treatment which helps separate individual bays, which break down the expansive elevations.
The scheme will house 20,000 journalists during the games.
CABE is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. The London 2012 design review panel has been established to advise the Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) on the quality, sustainability and legacy of the London 2012 Olympic proposals.
