A shortlist of 13 design institutions competing to build Beijing's
multi-million dollar Olympic stadium have been named.
Each of the tenders who made it through the first round take home
US$50,000 for their three-month architectural efforts. While the
three who make the final will each get a further US$50,000,
whatever the outcome.
The 13 shortlisted designs -- chosen from a total of 44 -- will go
on display at the Beijing International Convention Center from
March 26 to 31 to solicit public opinion and suggestions, announced
the Beijing
Urban Planning Commission.
The evaluation panel consisting of 13 members -- six Chinese and
seven from overseas -- include architects, engineers, Olympic
experts and government officials. They will select the three top
designs and make the final decision, said Li Yidong, an official
with the commission in charge of the design tender.
As
the main arena for the 2008 Olympic Games, the National Stadium
will host the grand opening and closing ceremonies as well as track
and field events. In the years that follow, it will be the venue of
major sports and cultural activities.
The Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co Ltd, the official
operator of the stadium, said eight of the candidates were foreign
companies or consortia from countries and regions including
Australia, Japan, the United States, two domestic and three joint
ventures.
The eventual winner will draw up more detailed architectural plans,
with construction work set to begin on December 24, said Wang Yuxi,
general manager of the company responsible for the mammoth
project.
Located in the south of the Olympic Green, the heart of the 2008
Games, the National Stadium will cover a total floor area of
145,000 square meters, with 80,000 permanent and 20,000 temporary
ones.
In
a separate development, construction of the National Swimming
Center will begin on December 12, making it the first sports venue
of the Olympic building program to get underway.
Ten design institutions are jockeying for position in the race to
win the tender for the swimming center after a pre-qualifying
round. They must submit their detailed designs by the June 18,
deadline.
(China Daily March 21, 2003)