Project and Process Systems - Term Paper Example

Olympic Stadium London (OSL) was built to create a truly iconic landmark. The huge proposition was at the heart of London’s 2012 Olympic bid and an opportunity for east London to showcase creative construction design and adherence to standards. Designed by architects, Populous, the stadium was built to accommodate 80,000 spectators to watch Olympic events as well as for legacy after the Games at a cost of £ 498 million (ODA, 2012). This became an iconic structure deserved by London as it inspires years of architectural innovation in east London and acts as an architectural focal point for the Park.

The Stadium met legacy design criteria by having a temporary tiered seating and a PVC roof. The Stadium was reconfigured for other uses after 2012 after decisions such as using outside ‘pods’ to host drink and food stands and toilets instead of being placed inside the Stadium itself (ibid). The Stadium was ‘clothed’ in almost a kilometre of cloth for the Games. The excavation process removed almost 800,000 tons of soil and has a perimeter of 860 meters (Happold, 2014).

Between 2008 and 2012, more than 5,250 people worked on construction while the turf used for the Games was fitted over three days and grown in Scunthorpe (ODA, 2012). 1 Purpose of the studyThis study investigates the major process in the pre-construction stages of the Olympic stadium London by describing and mapping using the IDF0 and UML activity diagrams. It also showcases risk management using risk registers and matrices to analyze risks in the preconstruction stage. Finally, the project examines quality management in the off-site construction on the performance of the iconic project. 1.2 Background of the OSL iconic projectThe Olympic Stadium London is located in Marshgate Lane in Stratford area of East London.

The stadium is an iconic project hosting 80,000 spectators. The design and construction team included Rober McAlpine Construction Firm, Buro Happold Service Engineers, M-E Engineers Consulting Firm and the Populous Sports Architects (ODA, 2012).

The Olympic Stadium London construction began in October 2006 when the London Olympic Games organizing committee for the 2012 London Olympic Games acquired a 40-hactere land for the stadium construction. The project was funded by Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) at a tune of £496 million (ODA, 2012). The building has a fabric roof and black steel rakes allowing from natural breathing with minimized fixed mechanical systems. The Olympic stadium facilities include restaurants, cafes, merchandizing facilities, athlete’s warming area, and field and track events surfaces.

Other complementary services included High speed Javelin trains and domestic services at Stratford International Station (DBN, 2012). There have been plans to use the stadium for future national sports events and grand prix athletic events. This will be a community stadium with a permanent athletics track, lower league football, and rugby, training, medicine and science center. 1.3 Description of the OSL project The Olympic Stadium London is an innovative design of temporary and permanent structures intended to meet a 25,000 legacy spectator capacity and the 80,000 games spectator capacity (ODA, 2012).

The key structural engineering concepts draws from the new paradigm for Olympic Stadia input designs. To create a refined and elegant simplicity to the design, careful selection of connection and orientations designs, structural elements sizes and structural geometries was done (DBN, 2012). This was appropriate for the appropriate for a partially temporary and economic structure. Roof design drivers attenuated field and track level winds as well as offering support for the sports lights. It also supported theatrical and lighting stage set for the closing and opening ceremonies.

Delivered in just 34 months, the key to the success was teamwork between the Construction and Integrated Design Teams (DBN, 2012). Collaboration between builders and designers eliminated most of the challenges engineering and construction. Figure 2: Architectural marvel of OSL (Popp & Margaretha, 2012) From the figure 1 above, the stadium is built into the ground with a roof cable-supported fabric membrane, and its design is a sunken bowl. The roof resembles an upside-down paper hat and is supported by a zigzag pattern steel frame.

It provides cover to majority of the spectators and stretches 28m round the stadium. Additional shelter is provided by an open-weave fabric curtain that is wrapped around the stadium. The wrap highlights the entrances to the stadium’s base structure and include 2.5m wide banners twisted at 90° angles (DBN, 2012). A scaffold-like structure supports the upper bowl 55,000 temporary seats. However, this structure has been criticized for having a 'Lego'-style or 'makeshift' appearance. Spectators get a close view of the action from the remaining permanent seats are sunk into the ground.

The design excluded food outlets within the stadium but included free-standing. In addition, the toilet facilities required sewage and water management built from recycled shipping containers. The stadium will also feature a wrapround video screen, retail pods and a permanent semi-basement of athletes' changing rooms (Popp & Margaretha, 2012). Lauded as the lightest Olympic stadium to date, the demountable upper levels are made of lightweight steel of 10,000tons. The roof structure supports black steel rakers and fabric roof acting as terracing supports for the 55,000 seat upper tier (DBN, 2012).

To pass on updates to people outside the stadium, the wrap uses modern printing techniques. The project also installed a 1km-long wraparound video screen. In 2007, land preparation for the stadium started site clearance that involved demolition of 33 buildings and construction officially began in May 2008 with pile sinking (DBN, 2012). To form the base for the stadium, about 4,000 piles were installed and the stadium's field and track arena excavated. Stadium design includes the natural land slope, changing and warm-up areas dug at the lower end’s semi-basement position.