A New Olympic Stadium To Rise Soon

When the Olympics were held in Beijing tis past summer, one of the enduring architectural memories was the National Stadium, known colloquially as the Bird's Nest.

And while Vancouver's 2010 Olympic games will be held mostly in recycled sports facilities, the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia will have a brand new main facility.

Populous, the architecture firm formerly known as HOK Sport Venue Event, sent along this rendering of its planned winter Olympics stadium.    A press release follows.

POPULOUS SELECTED TO DESIGN SOCHI 2014 MAIN STADIUM

The global design practice Populous is delighted to announce today that it has been selected by the State Corporation ‘Olympstroy’ to design the main stadium for the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Populous has also designed the master plan and overlay plan for competition and non-competition venues and facilities, and now adds designing the main 40,000 seat stadium to their expanding role on the 2014 Games. Populous is joined in the design consortium by Russian contractor Engeocom and Botta Management.

"The main stadium design, in addition to the venue overlay plan we have prepared for the 2014 Games, delivers a wonderful vision for the winter Olympics and a lasting sustainable legacy for Sochi. Its sweeping form responds to both its coastal location and mountainous backdrop, whileits crystalline skin engages with its surroundings by day and provides an iconic representation of the color and spectacle of the games when illuminated at night.  We are proud to be involved on such a level with Olympstroy," said John Barrow, Populous senior principal.

This is the 25th year of Populous' involvement in Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the firm is now the first design practice to have been officially appointed for the design of two Olympic Stadiums at one time. With Populous being the architects responsible for the main stadium and venues overlay for the London 2012 Games, designing for Sochi 2014 ensures the continuation of the practice’s unrivalled experience in Olympic event planning and venue design. Each of these stadiums reflects new standards for Olympic sustainability initiatives.