Dow Used in Olympics Retrofits, New Builds
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2021
Building solutions company Dow has announced that nine of the retrofit structures at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (slated to be held this summer) will be outfitted with various materials from the company.
“To ensure retrofit facilities at Tokyo 2020 have the necessary performance level expected of a modern Olympic Games, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic & Paralympic Games leveraged Dow’s materials science expertise,” said Mike Reed, Vice President of Dow Sports Marketing Solutions.
“The average lifespan of a building is 50 years, namely due to inevitable damage and wearing of the structure’s skin or envelope. By working with our local customers to deploy Dow’s innovative technologies to these buildings, we’re able to help conserve and enhance existing structures, delivering sustainability gains long after the closing ceremonies.”
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| Tokyo-Good, CC-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
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Global chemical company Dow has announced that nine of the retrofit structures at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (slated to be held this summer) will be outfitted with various building solutions from the company. |
The games features 43 venues in total, including eight new permanent structures, 25 existing venues and 10 temporary sites. According to the company, the retrofit venues aim to honor the legacy of the Olympic Games Tokyo 1964.
Dow technologies are used in the following repurposed buildings:
- Olympic Stadium;
- Olympic Village;
- Equestrian Park;
- Saitama Super Arena;
- Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre;
- Sea Forest Waterway;
- Sea Forest Cross Country Course;
- Nippon Budokan; and
- International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Center.
One of the legacy buildings is Nippon Budokan, which is one of the three major sites that was originally built for the 1964 games. Dow’s Dowanol Glycol Ethers were used in the water-based coatings system to help reduce damage from moisture, cracking and popping to keep the venue looking fresh. In addition, Elastene Elastomeric Wall Coatings on the exterior walls are aiming to provide dirt and water resistance, while paint formulated with Primal Acrylic Polymer is used to help protect the integrity of interior walls.
The company also highlighted another example, the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Center, which needed to be re-glazed both to enhance aesthetics and stabilize the structure. Dowsil SE 797 Silicone Sealant is leveraged in the canopy/connecting corridor that links the International Broadcast Center with the Main Press Center. The silicone sealant has adhesion and weather protection, and also aims to help absorb and relieve movement between the structure’s elements to prevent cracks that could result from Tokyo’s hot summer temperatures.
Dow solutions are also incorporated in several new-build structures, including the Ariake Arena, Ariake Gymnastics Center, Tokyo Aquatics Center and many more.
“Transitioning to a sustainable future is a business imperative for Dow, and as a materials science company, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to promote adoption of more efficient technologies,”said Hirokazu Shibata, technology and sustainability leader for Dow Sports Marketing Solutions.
“It’s no secret that the construction industry is one of world’s largest consumers of both energy and resourcess, and the decisions made today for the built environment will play a major role in the future of the industry. With technology solutions that exist today, like those incorporated throughout Tokyo’s retrofitted venues, we can improve the energy efficiency of structures, reduce embodied carbon and help leave a positive legacy backed by the power of sport and science.”
Tagged categories: Building Envelope; Dow Building Solutions; Retrofits; Stadiums/Sports Facilities
