Paris 2024 Olympic Aquatic Centre

Sport facility type

• Indoor swimming pools

Is the facility part of the sports complex?

Yes

Description

The only permanent new building for the 2024 Games together with the expanded green public space and the new bridge that connects the stadium with the Stade de France and the rest of Paris the Aquatics Centre is an important investment in the future of Saint-Denis and the Paris metropolitan region. The innovative award-winning project is set to create an unforgettable experience of the Games and promises a lasting legacy for the neighbourhood and beyond. The Aquatics Centre goes beyond environmental regulations and requirements. Sustainability and biodiversity are key in all aspects its design. It is a modern and innovative sports complex surrounded by abundant vegetation that seriously contributes to a livable and healthy city district for the people in Saint-Denis. To also stimulate a healthy lifestyle after the Games, the building will be open and transparent and accommodate a wide range of sports. httpsvenhoevencs.nlprojectsolympics-aquatics-centre-paris-2024

Size

• Indoor Space: 12 000 m²
• Outdoor Space: 0 m²

Other relevant information

Nature was the main inspiration for the design concept. Nature is continuously evolving and adapting to changing circumstances, resulting in harmonious and balanced ecosystems. The Aquatics Centre invites nature itself in the heart of the new city-district-in-the-making of Saint-Denis. This very compact proposal creates room for one hundred trees that will be planted to improve the quality of life and air, stimulate biodiversity and create new ecological connections.

Sustainability pillars of the innovation'

• Energy
• Materials

Subcategories

• Procurement: The purchasing of more sustainable materials.
• Renewable Energy: Use of renewable energy sources such as solar thermal, photovoltaic solar, biomass, geothermal, district heating, and wind.
• Design Wood, one of the quintessential bio-based construction materials, is used to create the main structure of this building. The design of the Aquatics centre features an impressive wooden roof, a suspended shape with minimal construction height that strictly follows the required minimum space for tribunes, people and sightlines, thereby minimizing the amount of air that needs to be conditioned during the coming 50 years.

Innovation description

90 Renewable or recovered energy and upcycled furniture

Energy consumption is one of the big challenges for swimming pools, due to water treatment and high temperature demands. By reducing the energy demand and creating a smart energy system, 90 of the needed energy can be provided with renewable or recovered energy. The solar roof will be one of the biggest solar farms in France and will cover 20 of all required electricity production. 100 of the energy produced by the solar roof is utilised directly on-site. All tribune chairs are newly designed and made out of 100 recycled plastic collected from the neighborhood.

By gathering people around sports and leisure, the new Aquatics Centre creates a neighborhood that builds bridges between cultures and districts whilst making use of the facilities and surrounding public spaces. There is also the literal connection, with a new pedestrian bridge that crosses the highway and connects the public spaces around Stade de France with the Aquatic Centre and the new heart of the future eco neighborhood of La Plaine Saulnier.

Innovation Type

Technical innovation

Approximate cost of investment in innovation (in €, excluding VAT)

175 000 000 €

Aid or subsidy to encourage the implementation of the innovation

Years for the return on investment (ROI)

None

Pros of the Innovation

1) Sustainable Construction The centres main structure is predominantly constructed from wood, a renewable resource that stores carbon even after harvesting.
2) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy The facility boasts a vast solar array on its roof, covering approximately 5,000 square meters. This installation provides around 20 of the buildings electricity needs.
3) Use of Recycled Materials The spectator seating is made entirely from recycled plastic collected from the local community

Cons of the Innovation

There has been discussion that the design of the pool impacts negatively the performance of swimmers.

Facility Indicators

Other Indicators

• LED lights
• Solar panels

Interest in a specific need that can be addressed by a company offering an innovative sustainability solution.