Tokyo 2020 unveils sustainable athletes village plaza

By Daniel Brightmore
Share
When the world’s top athletes meet in Tokyo for the Olympics in July, they’ll be spending some of their downtime in a communal space built mostly ou...

When the world’s top athletes meet in Tokyo for the Olympics in July, they’ll be spending some of their downtime in a communal space built mostly out of reusable timber. 

Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Wednesday unveiled the athletes village plaza, which was made from 40,000 pieces of timber donated by 63 Japanese municipal governments. 

After the Games, the 2.4 billion yen ($22mn) building will be dismantled and the timber returned to the donating municipalities for re-use in local facilities. Each donated piece is marked with the name of the area that provided the wood.

“The main feature (of Tokyo 2020) is that plenty of timber is used, not only in this village plaza, but also in other venues,” Tokyo 2020 venues sustainability manager Nariki Makihara told Reuters.

SEE ALSO

Green means go: Sustainable construction is driving the industry forward

Innovation, sustainability and a people first approach: Hansen Yuncken's recipe for construction success

Japan partners with Wyoming Infrastructure Authority to test making concrete from coal emissions

Read the latest issue of Construction Global here

Tokyo’s Olympics organisers also aim to offset all carbon emissions generated during the Games, which begins on July 24. 

Environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have previously accused Tokyo 2020 organisers of failing to end the use of timber associated with rainforest destruction and human rights abuses. Organisers dispute those claims.

 

Share

Featured Articles

Iconic Building Project: Bilbao Island Smart City District

Iberdrola & Bilbao City Council are transforming an old industrial area into a net zero emissions smart city testing ground for renewable energy solutions

How AI is Shaping Architecture, Construction & Engineering

Neil Davidson, Group VP of Deltek -- an architecture, construction and engineering specialist -- on the impact on AI and how the industry can be smarter

Aggreko: Power Supply Issues Hitting Offshore Wind Builds

Construction firms face challenges as McKinsey forecasts 630GW installed capacity by 2050, but Aggreko study reveals power supply chain gaps hinder develop

Electric Construction Machinery Growth 'is Significant'

Sustainability & Green Building

NEC and Consult Australia Forge Contract Partnership

Construction Projects

Real Estate Giant Cushman & Wakefield Details Net Zero Path

Sustainability & Green Building