Japan cuts cost for Olympic stadium from $2.1bn to $1.3bn

Japan has slashed the construction costs for the new national stadium, the centrepiece of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by a third from the previous estimate of $2.1 billion (¥ 252 billion). The government has set a cap on the stadium at $1.3 billion (¥ 155 billion). Roughly a fourth of this amount will be contributed by Tokyo city hall if agreement is reached.

While soaring cost was the main reason for dropping the 2012 Zaha Hadid design (and indeed key guidelines of the entire competition by Japan Sport Council), the new one’s budget is still subject to negotiations.

Keeping the budget from growing required some crucial changes in future usability. The stadium will not have a retractable roof or mobile stands that would accommodate football and athletics equally well. Both these features are very expensive and were scrapped.

Currently two large consortia are fighting for the design + build contract. Taisei Corporation teamed up with architect Kengo Kuma, while famous Toyo Ito is designing his concept together with Takenaka, Shimizu and Obayashi corporations. Groundbreaking on the long-delayed project is expected in early 2017 and delivery in late 2019 or early 2020.

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