2012 organisers under fire from leading architect

LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) London 2012 chiefs have defended the way they handed out building contracts for the Olympic stadium after criticism from a leading architect.

In a story in today's Financial Times Richard Rogers, a member of the Olympic design review panel, was reported to be threatening to boycott the stadium project because design considerations had not been made a priority.

The ''design and build'' contact for the 80,000-seater stadium was awarded to preferred bidder the Team McAlpine consortium, who were responsible for the Sydney Olympic stadium and Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium.

The report said that Rogers was opposed to contractors also being responsible for the design.

''Every major Olympic stadium I can think of went through (a design-led procurement process) and I don't know why London isn't doing the same. There is no proof that design-and-build contracts are cheaper in terms of value,'' he was quoted as saying.

However, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) who are responsible for building venues, say that the design of the showpiece stadium is a high priority.

''We are committed to high quality design but the functionality of venues and the legacy that they leave behind for the community is also very important,'' an ODA statement said today.

''We have established an independent design panel to advise us on the design quality, of which Lord Rogers is a member.'' Responding to concerns that the 2012 venues should be more iconic, the ODA said they were working with Iraq-born architect Zaha Hadid on the design of the Aquatics Centre.

''Zaha Hadid is one of the most creative talents around, but the quality debate is not just about architecture -- it also needs to encompass engineering, art, creativity, innovation and culture.'' What becomes of the Olympic stadium after the Games has become a thorny issue for 2012 organisers, who insist that it will be retained as an athletics stadium with a reduced capacity despite talk of a football club moving in.

Former ODA chief Jack Lemley quit last month, saying that rising costs and political squabbling over the Olympic stadium were behind his reasons for quitting.

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