The external roof and ceiling of the "Water Cube" were made with lightweight transparent plastic known as ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) pillow cladding. The state-of-the-art material covers 100,000 square meters of the facility, which makes China's National Aquatics Center the largest, most complicated ETFE structure in the world.

Structure

The National Aquatics Center's structure is based on a common natural pattern, the arrangement of cells and the formation of soap bubbles, the most effective sub-division of three dimensional space.

The idea for such a structure comes from the great physicist Lord Kelvin. He came up with the idea of "bubbles," equal-sized shapes that could divide space with the least surface area between them. In nature, such space-filling patterns are very often observed. As such, the facility, with such a natural look, allows viewers both inside and outside alike to absorb its water-like beauty.

Material

ETE has been on the market for over ten years. The transparent material has been specifically used in the National Aquatic Center's construction due to the venue's large spacing and lighting requirements. Not only has the use of ETFE lowered the overall weight of the facility's ceiling and walls, it has also fulfilled the requirements of a "Green" and "Hi-tech" Olympics.

This is how the "Water Cube" got its nickname. The Olympic venue is an immense, blue, "bubble-like" mass rising from the ground. The National Aquatics Center makes use of solar power and ecologically friendly materials to power its needs, making for a state-of-the-art facility.

Milestones of the Project

July 2003: Design concept of the National Aquatics Center is determined

December 24, 2003: Groundbreaking of National Aquatics Center; construction begins

April 7, 2004: Preparation work for concrete material is completed

July 17, 2004: Concrete structure begins to be installed; National Aquatics Center contracts officially signed

First half of 2005: Main concrete structure is completed

Second half of 2005: Beginning of installation of steel components

April 10, 2006: Ceiling construction begins; steel structure is completed

June 16, 2006: Steel support system completely set up

August 1, 2006: First piece of membrane installed

December 26, 2006: Outside layer of membrane installation completed

January 1, 2007: Modeling of facility begins

March 2007: Municipal construction begins

September 2007: Equipment completely installed in National Aquatics Center