Background

Widely described as the construction project of the century, the Olympic Park development delivered not only a world class venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, but also laid the foundations for a new London district as part of its long term legacy.

The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) procurement policy placed sustainability at its core, alongside value, quality and performance. Suppliers were required to demonstrate strong environmental credentials, meet complex security requirements, and deliver large volumes of materials within tightly controlled construction programmes.

The challenge

The Olympic Park Roads and Bridges contract covered the primary road infrastructure serving the main Olympic Park, along with a number of high profile, architecturally sensitive public spaces, including:

  • The North and South Security Plazas
  • The Aquatics Centre designed by Zaha Hadid
  • Wider public realm and infrastructure supporting long term park use
  • Key challenges included:
  • Managing surface water drainage across a large, multi phase site
  • Meeting strict ODA sustainability and carbon reporting requirements
  • Gaining early specification approval on a highly scrutinised project
  • Coordinating delivery into a site operating a strict Delivery  Management System (DMS)
  • Ensuring reliability of supply within a high security construction environment

The solution

Marshalls worked closely with the design team from a very early stage to secure specification for the surface water drainage systems and kerb units across the Olympic Park.

For the Roads and Bridges contract, Beany Block combined kerb and drainage was selected to deliver reliable surface water capture alongside robust performance suitable for highway infrastructure.

In prominent and architecturally sensitive locations, including the North and South Security Plazas and the Aquatics Centre, Marshalls supplied Birco linear drainage systems, providing high drainage capacity while maintaining visual quality appropriate to landmark public spaces.

Marshalls also supplied Slot Drain linear drainage to parts of the wider Olympic Park development, including the Athletes’ Village, where a discreet drainage solution was required to complement high quality public realm finishes.

Beyond product supply, Marshalls delivered a comprehensive support package including:

  • Full design services for surface water drainage systems
  • Carbon footprinting data for all supplied materials
  • Sustainability qualification documentation aligned with ODA procurement standards
  • A dedicated on site support team throughout the construction phase
  • Logistical coordination compliant with the Olympic Park’s DMS booking and security system

The outcome

Marshalls’ combined kerb and linear drainage solutions formed an integral part of the Olympic Park’s infrastructure delivery, supporting both Games time performance and long term legacy use.

The ability to provide technically robust solutions, supported by early design engagement, sustainability data and secure logistics, helped Marshalls meet the demands of one of the most complex construction projects ever undertaken in the UK.

Following the Games, the site was transformed into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, now a globally recognised destination for sport, culture, education, recreation and enterprise. The surface water drainage infrastructure delivered as part of the project continues to support the safety, resilience and performance of this landmark regeneration area.