2012 velodrome wins Better Public Building Award

It may have missed out on the Stirling Prize but London 2012’s Velodrome has scooped the prime minister’s Better Public Building Award.

The award, made last night (Wednesday) as part of the British Construction Industry Awards, is sponsored jointly by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and has run for the past decade.

Judges picked the Velodrome - designed by Hopkins Architects - out of a list of 27 projects from across the UK, including the Olympic Stadium and the Central Park Bridge that spans over the River Lea between the Stadium and Aquatics Centre.

The lightweight 6,000-seat Velodrome was built by contractor ISG with other members of the team including engineers Expedition Engineering and BDSP.

Construction minister Mark Prisk said: “The London 2012 Games are a golden opportunity for the UK construction industry to showcase the very best that Britain has to offer.

“With investment in sporting event related infrastructure estimated to be $200bn over the next decade, the opportunity for UK business to grow is huge. I’m pleased that this award has gone to such a deserving building. I only hope it’s the first of many British gold medals that the Velodrome will see.”

ODA chairman John Armitt said: “This is a tremendous achievement for a venue that combines innovative architecture, engineering and construction into a stunning and sustainable building.”