Zaha Hadid Bows Out of Tokyo Stadium Contest

(ATR) Zaha Hadid Architects can no longer compete in the new Tokyo national stadium design contest after failing to secure a construction company in their bid.

The addition of a contractor with the submitted design was a stipulation created by Tokyo 2020 organizers in order to streamline the process of beginning construction.

Zaha Hadid designed the original proposal for the national stadium that was chosen ahead of 45 other entries in 2012. These plans were scrapped by organizers in July at the request of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after cost projections for the design exceeded $2 billion.

Zaha Hadid struck back at the claims that the design itself was to blame for the cost projections and not inflation in the cost of building materials in the construction market. The London-based architecture firm said they were disappointed in the decision but vowed to submit a new design.

At the beginning of September, the firm said it had teamed up with engineering company Nikken Sekkei in order to submit the new bid.

"In partnership with a committed construction contractor, we can deliver the most cost-effective delivery plan that will ensure the new national stadium is ready in good time for the preparations ahead of Tokyo 2020," ZHA said.

However, the firm was unable to secure a deal with the construction company, causing ZHA to announce on Friday they would no longer be submitting a new design.

"It is disappointing that the two years of work and investment in the existing design for a new national stadium for Japan cannot be further developed to meet the new brief through the new design competition," a spokesman for ZHA said.

This large delay in the selection and finalization of a design for the stadium has caused uncertainty with the Rugby World Cup slated to be held in Japan in 2019. Tokyo 2020 organizers planned to use the stadium to host the Rugby World Cup before the Olympics the following year, yet the delays make this goal unlikely.

The IOC has asked Tokyo 2020 to provide a guaranteed completion date six months before the start of the 2020 Games in order to allow time to prepare the stadium for the Olympics. Organizers say they cannot promise the project will be finished in this time-frame.

This added pressure caused organizers to change the design selection process to require a contractor in order to begin construction as soon as possible. Organizers say they will choose the winner of the new design contest in January.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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