Wuxi Olympic Sports Center Stadium – design description

When were plans to build the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center conceived?

The new sports complex in Wuxi was planned in the southern part of the city, in a marshy area on the banks of Lake Tai, in Binhu District, in the so-called Taihu New City. The investment is in line with the strong development of the city's southern areas. Wuxi is a city located less than 150 kilometers west of Shanghai. In 2020, the population of the urban prefecture was nearly 7.5 million.

The international competition for the architectural concept of the new sports complex was won in 2023 by the German studio von Gerkan, Marg und Partner (gmp). The concept was developed in cooperation with schlaich, bergermann partner (structural engineer), WES LandschaftsArchitektur (landscape architecture) and Arup (sustainability), among others.

The new sports complex will represent a milestone for Wuxi, which, thanks to its construction, will be enriched with high-end sports facilities capable of hosting high-profile national and international events. The center will also serve training as well as recreational purposes and will benefit the local community.

What will make up the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center?

The main component of the complex will be a multi-purpose stadium, and the center will also include a large sports hall with an auditorium for 18,000 people, an indoor swimming pool with stands for 2,000 spectators, and a building with apartments for athletes, a hotel, a fitness center and commercial space.

The entire complex will occupy a 56.7-hectare plot, where a recreational park will be created with playing fields, paths, water reservoirs and greenery. The plan of the entire complex, as well as the appearance of the buildings, was inspired by the natural forms found in wetlands and their flora.

The design of the complex was prepared in accordance with the ideas of sustainable development and takes into account the use of solar, wind and geothermal energy. The Wuxi Olympic Sports Center will be accessible by public transportation: subway and buses.

What will the main stadium of the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center be like?

The main stadium of the complex will take a dynamic form that may resemble a saddle in shape. The facility will be equipped with an athletics track and stands with a capacity of 60,000 spectators. The auditorium will be covered, and the building will be clad in a light, translucent membrane.

When will the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center be built?

An account of the construction of the Wuxi Olympic Sports Center Stadium can be seen on a separate subpage

Construction of the complex began in January 2023, and the official groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 9, 2023. The work is expected to be completed in mid-2026, with an investment cost of 6.9 billion yuan.