Japan Sports Council (JSC), which is in charge of building the New National Stadium in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, decides the basic plan, shrinking its size from total floor space of 290,000 m2 to 220,000 m2. Taking into consideration opinions from groups of architectures and citizens, the length and the construction area will be reduced, while maintaining a British architect Zaha Hadid’s design chosen through the international competition. The total cost of reconstruction is estimated at 185.2 billion yen including dismantling the old stadium and building surrounding infrastructure.

Since the plan was approved by a panel on November 26, a consortium of four design firms; Nikken Sekkei Ltd., Azusa Sekkei Co. Ltd., Nihon Sekkei Inc., and Arup Japan Ltd., which is now undertaking basic planning, will be commissioned to draw the detailed design. Construction of the new stadium, a main venue of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games is scheduled to start in September 2015 completing in March 2019 as initially scheduled. Under the approved plan, the original oval shape was changed to nearly circular design and outer arched circumference was simplified, while the capacity remains its initial level of 80,000. The need of a retractable roof was accepted on the assumption that the stadium will be also used other purposes, such as concerts. (2013/11/27)