African Hockey Federation | IOC Inaugurates Olympic House on 125th Anniversary

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) HAS OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED ITS NEW HEADQUARTERS ON 23 JUNE DURING THE CELEBRATION OF OLYMPIC DAY. IN 2019 THIS SYMBOLIC DAY MARKED THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF THE IOC.

The inauguration of Olympic House was the culmination of a journey that started back in 2012 when the IOC decided to move ahead with the consolidation of its head office.

Olympic House is a privately funded investment in sustainability. The sustainability approach is threefold:

It has the strong ambition to meet the most demanding sustainability standards both locally and internationally. It has been designed as a sustainable building in terms of both construction and operations, with special efforts put into energy and water efficiency, waste reduction and landscape integration.
It aims to regroup all IOC staff in one location, resulting in cost savings and increased collaboration.
It also represents an investment by the IOC in the local economy and development. Eighty per cent of the construction costs have been spent with local companies hence contributing to the development of local competencies.

Developed by Danish architecture firm 3XN, Olympic House will allow the IOC to bring together its staff – 500 employees currently spread across Lausanne in four locations – under one roof at a single site. Selected by the IOC in April 2014 after an international architecture competition, 3XN partnered with Swiss architects IttenBrechbühl to oversee the construction of the project.

From 23 June onwards, the IOC will benefit from two Olympic centres in Lausanne: Olympic House in Vidy to cater for its administration and offer a welcoming meeting place for all its stakeholders; and The Olympic Museum and the Olympic Studies Centre in Ouchy to host the general public.

IOC/ADAM MORK

With this new building, the IOC confirms its attachment to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital. Developed in close consultation with the local authorities, Olympic House will offer the region an emblematic architectural landmark and become an important element of the local Louis Bourget public park, which welcomes a diverse group of visitors every year.

Olympic House is a unique example of innovative collaboration between many different stakeholders, including the IOC, some of its Worldwide Olympic Partners (Dow, Toyota and Panasonic), the architects 3XN and IttenBrechbühl, sustainability certification bodies, local authorities, suppliers and academics.