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5 Olympic sites that have been repurposed and making a positive impact

As we recently experienced, the Tokyo Olympics were conducted and the delays were taken care of just in time for the global event. As with previous Olympics, the hosting nation must take on a huge burden of funding the new infrastructure, and many times there are no plans for the secondary use of said infrastructure once the Olympics are completed. The London Olympics show us how the large investments can create new housing and new communal spaces that improve the quality of life in the city.

The following five projects are examples of infrastructure that has stood the test of time and even improved over time due to pro-active planning and repurposing of the parks, sports structures, and supplementary infrastructures.

Centennial Olympic Park — Atlanta, Georgia, USA

The 1996 Summer Olympics provided Atlanta with a golden opportunity to transform its downtown area. Centennial Olympic Park had a major role in Atlanta’s revitalization. Today, the park is a tourist draw that includes the College Football Hall of Fame, National Center for Civil & Human Rights, World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, and Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park — London, England

In 2012 London hosted the Olympics and was able to focus on creating Olympic venues in the East End neighborhood in order to promote urban renewal. It’s now home to parklands, waterways, playgrounds, and sport venues, including London Stadium, the London Aquatics Centre, the Copper Box Arena, and Lee Valley VeloPark.

Richmond Speed Skating Oval — Vancouver, Canada

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver saw the creation of the Richmond Speed Skating Oval, and today it hosts hockey games, speed skating, basketball, and it has an indoor track and squash courts.

Tennis Palace — Helsinki, Finland

The Tennis Palace was created back in 1938 for the 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, but it wasn’t used until the 1952 Olympics due to World War II. Yet at first the venue was used for basketball games, and eventually was repurposed as a cultural center housing an art museum, museum, and movie theater.

Olympic Village – Barcelona, Spain

Widely acclaimed as one of the most successful Olympic games for boosting economic growth, Barcelona’s 1992 Summer Olympics truly made a lasting impact. In preparation for the Olympics, the city of Barcelona reclaimed and renovated two miles of beaches alongside the city.

When considering your next career move, plan proactively and create Portfolios that include your best work. Consider looking into finding a mentor with Architect-USand improving your Portfolios with our Portfolio Plans and Career Advice Program. We provide coaching and personalized mentorship, so you can have a professional and experienced take on your next steps in your career, as well as a great team to confide in.

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