National Stadium Construction

National Stadium Under Construction, Beijing, China

Read a guide to Beijing's National Stadium, the huge centerpiece of the 2008 Olympic Games in the city.

National Stadium under construction, Beijing, China.
© Russell Uebergang

The Beijing National Stadium, popularly known as the "Bird's Nest," was constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics, with construction starting on December 24, 2003, and concluding on June 28, 2008. Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron (Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron) won the design competition in 2003, collaborating with ArupSport (structural engineers) and the China Architecture Design & Research Group (CADG).

Local Chief Architect: Li Xinggang of CADG.
Artistic Consultant: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
General Contractors: Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) and CITIC International Contracting Inc..
Steel Structure Construction: China National Electric Engineering Co Ltd (CNEEC) and China National Mechanical Engineering Corporation.
Construction Cost: The final construction cost was approximately US$423 million to $428 million.

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