Beijing Olympic Aquatic Centre – “Water Cube” 2008

Project Overview

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games featured the National Aquatics Centre — known globally as the “Water Cube” — as the iconic venue for swimming, diving, and water polo events. The project pushed the boundaries of architectural and engineering innovation, featuring an ETFE-clad façade and pioneering sustainable design. Delivered under the Beijing Olympic Authority with PTW Architects as design partner, the venue needed to meet world-class standards, immovable deadlines, and long-term legacy use beyond the Games.

TBH’s Role

• Acting as master programme and delivery advisor, integrating innovative construction methods into the schedule.
• Undertaking constructability and optioneering studies to resolve buildability challenges, particularly the façade and structural systems.
• Providing procurement advice, risk and value management input, Olympic overlay planning for Games-time operations, and guidance on legacy conversion planning and contract administration.

Value Created

TBH’s independent planning, risk, and delivery advice gave the client confidence to deliver a technically ambitious, high-profile venue on time and to standard. Our contribution helped mitigate construction risks, optimise delivery methodology, and align the Games-time and post-Games requirements, cementing the “Water Cube” as a sustainable and iconic legacy facility.