During the Olympics and Paralympics the Handball Arena will host handball and goalball.

 

In legacy the Arena will be transformed into a new venue with the flexible seating capacity and facilities necessary to hold a wide range of indoor sports training and local to international competitions.

 

ODA Board Member and chairman of the evaluation team Sir Nicholas Serota said: “We have selected the best candidate from a strong field with an ability to deliver an excellent venue design for Games-time and for Legacy use.

 

"Although a relatively new practice, Make has already established a strong reputation for designing high quality buildings at low cost.”

 

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: “We have appointed a team with the optimum mix of experience, capability and creativity to design a Handball Arena that enhances the experience for handball and goalball athletes during the London 2012 Games and leaves a lasting sporting and community legacy.

 

“We are a step closer to people being able to see the designs of all of the permanent venues that will host a fantastic festival of sport in London 2012 and provide new homes for elite and community sport in legacy. “

 

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, said:  “This is another important piece of the jigsaw, as we continue to prepare for the magnificent summer of sport in 2012. 

 

"The Handball Arena will also provide fantastic sporting facilities for the local community after 2012."

 

Designers have been appointed for the London 2012 Main Stadium (HOK as part of Team Stadium), Aquatics Centre (Zaha Hadid) and Velodrome (Hopkins Architects).

 

Seven design teams have been shortlisted for the design of the Eton Manor sporting ‘hub’ in the North of the Olympic Park that will host Gymnastics and Aquatics training facilities during the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Archery and Wheelchair Tennis events programme.