Press.
Thursday 31 May
International call for architects to design Athletes Village
Panel to be appointed to undertake a range of commissions
The Lend Lease led consortium and the Architecture Foundation have issued an international call for architects to design the Athletes Village for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
In March 2007, Lend Lease and its partners First Base and East Thames were selected by London & Continental Railways and the Olympic Delivery Authority as preferred Development Partner for Zones 2-7 of Stratford City a remit which includes the Athletes Village.
We are intent on creating an extraordinary place, a recognised testament to the confidence and vibrancy of London and the extent to which the UK is helping shape the new city agenda, says Lend Lease Europe Chairman Nigel Hugill.
To achieve this, we are seeking to engage the world's most talented architects from both established and emerging practices. This truly is an open call.
The Architecture Foundation will oversee the appointment of the panel, which is expected to comprise around 40 practices. This group will then compete for commissions to design individual components of the new high-density residential district a project with an estimated value of £2 billion which involves the development of approximately 4,200 residential dwellings and related accommodation.
Commissions will vary from individual buildings and pavilions to much larger projects. All the firms appointed to the panel will be eligible for commissions, irrespective of their size.
Rowan Moore, Director of the Architecture Foundation adds: The Athletes Village is a great opportunity for both emerging and established practices and we will be seeking to achieve a balance between the two.
In some cases this will involve a collaborative approach, with smaller practices working alongside larger firms. This will enable us to deliver opportunities for a diverse range of practices to demonstrate their talents.
Practices can obtain further information - and download the project brief - at www.villagearchitectspanel.com and have until 28 June 2007 to respond. The panel will be announced at the end of July.
For more information contact:
Philip Clark Lend Lease 020 7182 9206
Sue Brown FD Tamesis 020 7269 9341 / 020 7831 3113
Notes to Editors:
Lend Lease
Founded in Australia in the 1950s and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Lend Lease is a leading real estate specialist, which creates, enhances and manages real estate assets around the world. The Group's activities are primarily focused in the regions of Asia Pacific, Europe and the US, and cover 40 countries on six continents.
In the UK, its business is focused primarily on the delivery of large scale, retail led, mixed use schemes which lead to the regeneration of town centre and major urban sites.
Lend Lease provides cohesive in-house solutions for mixed-use developments, from planning and consultation, to development, funding, construction and asset management. In addition, through First Base (a joint venture with Elliott Lipton) and Crosby Lend Lease, the group's residential development business, it can deliver affordable and private homes as part of integrated retail, commercial and residential developments.
The Group also provides international project and construction management services through Bovis Lend Lease.
The Architecture Foundation
The Architecture Foundation promotes and encourages the best in contemporary architecture and brings it to a wide public. It runs a rich programme comprising exhibitions, events, design initiatives, competitions and education projects.
Established in 1991 as Britain's first independent architecture centre, The Architecture Foundation actively bridges the gap between decision-makers, design professionals and the public.