ODA shortlists five UK firms for Handball Arena

The Olympic Delivery Authority has shortlisted five British firms to bid for the last remaining permanent sporting venue without a contractor.

Barr, Buckingham, the Byrne Group, Mansell, and Verry have all been shortlisted to build the 2012 Handball Arena designed by Make Architects with PTW and Arup.

The 10,000-seat Handball Arena will host handball, goalball, and modern pentathlete events during the Games, and will become a indoor sports arena for local basketball, gymnastics and badminton teams as well as handball events after they end.

This is a quality shortlist for one of the last remaining opportunities to build a permanent Olympic Park venue

David Higgins

David Higgins, the ODA chief executive, said: “This is a quality shortlist for one of the last remaining opportunities to build a permanent Olympic Park venue. The Handball Arena is an important venue both for spectators and athletes during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the local community and sports teams in legacy.”

Planning permission for the venue will be sought later this year, with a contractor due to be appointed in the Spring. Construction will start in summer 2009.