Rogers slams Olympic design and build contracts

Reports in the UK trade and national press that award winning architect Lord Rogers has threatened to boycott the 2012 Olympic Games now appear exaggerated. His office has told WAN that the word ‘boycott’ was not used in this context, however he is heavily critical of the design and build process that led to the award of the £280 million stadium to a consortium led by contractors McAlpine and HOK architects. Rogers position is important not only because of his international standing but because he an advisor to London Mayor, Ken Livingstone. Rogers was cited in the press as saying “Every major Olympic stadium that I am aware of went though a design led procurement process.” The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has responded that each venue was considered separately and argued that design and build contracts can produce fantastic venues. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told WAN that: “Everyone involved in preparations for the London 2012 Games is committed to achieving high standards of design for the venues and the Olympic Park as a whole. That has to be reconciled with the demands of a tight construction programme and deliverability. Richard Rogers is working closely with the ODA team to achieve these aims.”