Patrick Parsons Consulting Engineers have just been awarded a £5m Olympic Legacy contract at the Lee Valley white water course, where Team GB famously won gold.
Renowned for their expertise in the white water sector, Patrick Parsons engineer world-class courses such as the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Course at the Tees Barrage. This is the only white water course in the world to generate more electricity than it uses.
This project also saw the development of the Rapidbloc technology which was used so effectively on the Olympic course at the Lee Valley. The Rapidbloc system consists of three-dimensional moveable obstacles which can be reconfigured on request, making the course more versatile.
Continuing to make waves with their strong track record in the white water sector, Patrick Parsons have been appointed to facilitate a multi-million pound project to maximise the potential of the Lee Valley white water course’s post-Olympic legacy.
The project is designed to optimise the leisure environment for the local community and improve facilities for schools. The upgrades will include adapting the course landscaping to increase spectator capacity and encourage members of the public to get involved. Parking areas will be extended to cater for an anticipated 10,000 visitors each weekend.
It is hoped that the course will provide an inspirational facility for young people from the region and beyond – an important aspect of its legacy. Patrick Parsons have been commissioned to provide full engineering services for the construction of two classrooms – one indoor for bad weather and one outdoor so students and teachers can make full use of the environment.
The project will also involve the creation of a new facility for athletes, with state-of-the art training areas, gym equipment and offices for coaches and physiotherapists. This will help ensure that the Lee Valley white water course continues to be a centre for world-class sport, nurturing Olympic athletes of the future.
Speaking of the contract, Patrick Parsons MD Peter Stienlet said: “There’s certainly an element of prestige for Patrick Parsons in having been selected to deliver this project. It’s a privilege to be involved in creating a legacy for the local community at the Lee Valley Olympic course.
“The upgrades to the facilities will also secure the course’s future as a world-class centre for sporting excellence, an equally important legacy. This continues our involvement in engineering world-class white water projects on an international scale.”