London 2012 Olympics

A mix of established designers, engineers and emerging young practices have made the shortlist in a design competition for a major footbridge in the centre of the Olympic Park.

The competition was for multi-disciplined teams including structural engineers, architects, designers and landscape architects to design the footbridge which will span 26m over Carpenters Lock on the River Lea Waterway. The bridge will be located on the central pedestrian concourse in the Olympic Park - a key link between the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Basketball Arena.

Following a strong response by more than 46 teams, the ODA has announced a shortlist of six teams:

• McDowell+Benedetti, Jane Wernick Associates, Craft Pegg and Sutton Vane Associates

• Hparc architects and Adams Kara Taylor Engineers

• Ron Arad Associated, Buro Happold and BBUK Studio

• Softroom and Eckersley O’Callaghan

• Future Systems and Adams Kara Taylor

• Tonkin Liu, Atelier One, Grant Associates and BDP Sustainability

The shortlisted teams will now be asked to develop concept design proposals for the permanent and temporary bridges and the immediate surrounding landscape. After the Games the structure will feature two permanent separate spans over the River Lea, each 6.5m wide.