University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium

University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium

Introduction

There is a central axis running through the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and the university gymnasium is located along this axis. The central axis of the university extends eastward from the west gate, passing by the main building, the library, and the sports stadium. It can be said that the most central buildings of the university are situated along this axis, and the newly built gymnasium is positioned at the easternmost end of the axis. As the competition venue for judo and taekwondo during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the design of the University of Science and Technology Beijing Gymnasium incorporates the concept of the “belt” from these martial arts. Rust-colored metal panels, each 3 meters wide and spaced 0.75 meters apart, are uniformly arranged across the entire façade, giving the building a cohesive look. Whether it’s the Olympic Plaza in front of the gymnasium, the exterior wall, or even the interior, rows of neat lines convey the theme of the “belt.” The roof structure of the gymnasium uses a bolted spherical steel grid system. From above, the entire roof resembles a “net” made up of many components, with spherical nodes connecting the rods. These nodes have small holes for inserting bolts on the rods, and the rods are connected through these nodes to form the steel grid. During the Olympics, the gymnasium had a total of 8,012 seats. After the event, through partial renovation, it was restored to 5,050 standard seats. It is now capable of hosting major competitions (such as blind judo and goalball events during the Paralympics, as well as world championships in judo and taekwondo), domestic judo and taekwondo tournaments, as well as university indoor sports competitions, teaching, training, fitness activities, conferences, and cultural performances. It also serves as the campus center for swimming instruction, training, and water sports and recreational activities.

   Haidian District, Beijing