The Water Cube incorporates a steel space frame with ETFE cladding to the structure and is currently the largest of its kind in the world, boasting over 100,000 m² of ETFE pillows. The ETFE was supplied by us here at Vector Foiltec and the cladding structure, due to its design, allows more light penetration and helps to reduce heat penetration, resulting in a 30% reduction in energy costs, making it a cost effective and an environmentally friendly building.

During the Olympic games in China the capacity of the Water Cube was 17,000 spectators but once the games are finished this is due to be reduced to 6,000. The Water Cube has a land surface of 65,000 square meters in total and although called the Water Cube, the aquatic centre is really a rectangular box shape, 178 meters (584 feet) square and 31 meters (102 feet) high.

The Water Cube was host to events that included swimming and diving as well as the synchronized swimming events during the Olympic games and many people believe that it is the fastest Olympic swimming pool ever to be used due to the fact the 25 world records were broken during the 2008 Games. One reason for this is that the pool itself is one meter deeper than most other Olympic pools used at past games and up to a certain point deeper swimming pools will allow the waves dissipate down to the bottom of the pool leading to less disturbance from the water for the swimmers.  Another huge factor is that the pool has perforated gutters on both sides, which allows the waves created to be absorbed.

If you require any further information on any of our products or services or how Vector Foiltec can help you, then please feel free to contact us as we are always happy to help and pride ourselves on our knowledge and background of ETFE structures.