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| France's Bouygues to construct a brand new velodrome The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines urban authority has signed a contract with the Vélopolis consortium, which consists of a number of Bouygues Construction subsidiaries alongside the Méridiam investment fund, for the construction of a brand new velodrome. In the form of a public-private partnership, the contract covers the finance, design and construction of a sports facility dedicated to cycling, as well as operation and maintenance for a period of 30 years (74 million euros for the works). The cornerstone of the sports facility, the velodrome has been designed by the Chabanne firm of architects. It will accommodate up to 5,000 spectators, 3,500 of them in fixed seating, and will incorporate the world's first 250-metre long, 8-metre wide cycle track with a constant radius of 23 metres. The track has been designed by Ralph Schuermann, one of the world's foremost designers of cycle tracks. The French Cycling Federation will install its headquarters in the building. The project also includes the construction of the first covered BMX track in Europe, as well as accommodation facilities and a restaurant to enable elite sportsmen and women and their coaches to train under the best possible conditions. When it has come into operation, Vélopolis will accomodate roughly fifty events per year, including sports competitions, leisure activities, seminars, conventions, etc. The project is being carried out alongside a 35,000 m˛ property development programme which will mainly consist in the construction of a hotel, accommodation for students and research workers, offices and shops. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |