In the hub

The starting pistol has sounded and the first hurdles cleared in the race to win the 2012 Olympics, with London vying to be host city. And while a ground-breaking sports village in East London has been planned, one potential venue is already complete, officially opened on 27 April.

The Hub sports pavilion in Regent’s Park is the focal point of the city’s largest outdoor sports area. It is encircled by 50 restored sports pitches for football, cricket, softball and rugby that stretch over 90 acres. Designed by David Morley Architects, the two-storey, circular building is part underground, with the lower level concealed by a grass mound. Shower, sports and changing rooms and the m&e plantroom surround a central atrium on this level and are topped by a floor-to-ceiling glazed club room and cafe.

ECA firm Aseas UK won the £300 000 contract for the electrical, security and data installation by competitive tender to the main contractor William Verry. The firm began on site in September 2004 at the initial build stage, fitting conduit in the floor slabs prior to the concrete pour.

M&E installation was to a design by consulting engineer Max Fordham; Aseas assisted with the detailed electrical design. Distribution of the electrical, fire and Cat 5 data cabling around the Hub is via three-compartment trunking installed above the ceilings. “There is no need for a riser to the upper level – and no room for one,” Aseas md Russell Solts explains. Trunking to the upper level is fed directly through the slab alongside the ductwork.

Tight space and timescales meant co-ordination between the construction teams was critical. “Teamwork was important on the project,” stresses Solts. “There were no partnership agreements, but there was a lot of co-ordination with the mechanical side. We worked closely, talked and understood what each other was doing.” This enabled the intricacies of the m&e services to be overcome and sets a standard for the athletes of 2012. Let the Games begin...