Water Cube

National Aquatics Center, the landmark building of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is located inside the Beijing Olympic Green. It is axially related to the National Stadium on the north part of Beijing Central Axis and reinforces the historical and cultural features of Beijing city. The planning area of the NSC is 62950m², and the total floor area is 65,000 - 80,000m², in which the underground component is not less than 15,000 m².

The National Aquatics Center was the venue for swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water-polo final during the 2008 Olympic Games. The total seating capacity is 17,000, including 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary for Games which was removed post-Games, and then the National Aquatics Center becomes the venue for various activities such as aquatic sports, swimming, fitness and recreation.

The international competition-winning scheme is known as "Water Cube" ([H2O]³). It is designed by the design consortium consists of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China State Construction International (Shenzhen) Design Co., Ltd, PTW Architects (Australia) and Ove Arup (Australia). The design concept of the “water cube” combines the symbolisms of the architecture and the unique water bubble structure, and builds an appropriate complement to the National Stadium. The NSC functionally meets the requirement of 2008 Olympic Games and post-games operation.

 

The National Aquatics Center is owned, managed and operated by BJSAM. Commenced at the end of 2003, the construction of the building was finished in 2006. The total investment of the project was around 100 million US dollar.

Since June 20, 2009 the Water Cube has been open to the public on certain days of the week. It is also used for sound and light shows and during the summer of 2009 was turned into a ballet theater for a production of Swan Lake. The building’s popularity has spawned many copycat structures throughout China. The Watercube closed to the public to undergo renovations on October 15, 2009.