3. Aquatics Centre
Designed by acclaimed international architect Zaha Hadid, the Aquatics Centre was essentially the 'gateway' to the Olympic Park and was used for swimming and diving events. Boasting two 160 foot swimming pools and an 82 foot diving pool, the indoor facility provided seats for 17,500 spectators during the games and was built in July 2011 at a cost of £269million. Described as a "masterpiece" by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, the centre also includes an innovative 50m warm-up pool complete with a movable floor to increase and reduce depth.
What Next? The Aquatics Centre is going to be considerably downsized now that the Games are over. The capacity is expected to be reduced by 15,000 to 2,500 and will open to the public in 2014. It is expected to replace the pools at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre as London's leading facility for aquatic sports and will be a welcome attraction for local communities.