Written by Michelle Reeves, Four Green Steps

The organizers of the London Summer Olympics have definitely put a lot of emphasis on sustainability. Despite criticism for things like creating the world’s largest McDonald’s – though it is only temporary – and attempting to reduce air pollution with sketchy chemicals, it is clear that no other organizers has put this much effort into creating green Olympic Games. Here is a list of the top 5 beautifully green buildings that popped up in London for the Games.

1. The London Velodrome: Both this indoor bicycle track and the nearby BMX track are permanent installations that will remain in East London after the Games are over. The curved exterior is covered in wood paneling, which lets the building benefit from natural ventilation instead of relying on air conditioning. Rooftop skylights minimize the use of artificial lighting and rainwater collections systems reduce the stress on the water grid for toilets and irrigation.
   
   
2. Olympic Basketball Arena: One of the buildings getting the most hype, this recyclable, collapsible building is a true innovation. Finished under budget and on time last year, the building can be entirely dismantled and stored for further use (rumor has it it may be sold to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 games). Its light design means less steel and concrete was used in the construction of this 12,000 seat arena.
   
   
3. Aquatics Center: With its beautiful wavy roof, the Aquatics Center is the second largest building in the Olympic Village. Housing 2 50-meter pools, the building is made of sustainably harvested Brazilian Red Lauro timber and precast blocks of concrete. The stands inside are made from steel and phthalate-free PVC that will all be recycled after the Games. On top of it all, most of the building materials were shipped by train instead of trucks.
   
   
4. The Copper Box: Also known as the handball arena, this building has lighting pipes on the roof which decrease the electricity needs by 40% and and a rainwater catching system. The outside is made of entirely recycled copper and bricks made of construction dust. This is one of the few buildings that will remain after the summer and be used for local community and athletic events.
   
   
5. Shooting Ranges at the Royal Artillery Barracks: The site was previously taken up by the longest Georgian style façade in the whole United Kingdom, the modern shooting range is in sharp contrast with its dated surroundings. Built from steel, surrounded in plywood and covered in more phthalate-free PVC, the building is sprinkled with blue suction cup-like ventilation systems that will lighten the air conditioning load. The building will also be recycled and used for other events after August.

Image credit: London2012.com

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