London Olympia Exhibition Hall Transformation Nears Completion

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29 April 2025

The £1 billion project to return London Olympia to its “people’s palace” status is nearing completion.

SPPARC and Heatherwick Studio aim to open up public access to the site, with new amenities such as restaurants, hotels, office space and 2.5 acres of open space. Most of the new spaces are set to open in the second half of 2025.

 

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The Olympia transformation focuses on creating community spaces and opening up an area that was previously only accessible by purchasing a ticket to an event at London Olympia’s exhibition hall or by visiting the only restaurant on the site.

It is set to feature London's largest permanent theatre to open since the 1970s, a 4,000+ capacity music venue managed by AEG Presents, the Wetherby Performing Arts School, offices, gardens, a public plaza, hotels and restaurants.

The site has several listed buildings: Grand Hall and Pillar Hall (Grade II*) and National Hall, Central and MSCP (Grade II). 

Main contractor Laing O’Rourke has appointed heritage specialist DBR to restore the original frieze panel above the main Grand Hall entrance by hand. The team will also recreate sculptures that vanished from the Olympia in the 1950s.

 

Picture: a photograph showing a stone mason working on a large ornate sculpture of a person's face. Image Credit: DBR London

 

At the end of 2024, a huge central glass canopy influenced by the vaulted glass roofs of the original exhibition halls was revealed. The roof is made of 520 rectangular low-iron glass panels, covering nearly 1,000 square metres with a pleated glazing motif inspired by the façade of the Grade II* listed Grand Hall.

 

Picture: an image showing the glass panels of the new canopy from below. Image Credit: Raquel Diniz © Heatherwick Studio

 

Thomas Heatherwick, Founder and Design Director of Heatherwick Studio, said: “Olympia was once a people’s palace – a place to come together and experience unusual things. Having lost its way over the years, we’re now working to bring back its original spirit and make Olympia open and available to everyone.

“At the heart of this mission is the new central canopy. Influenced by the vaulted glass roofs of the original exhibition halls, the new canopy will be the beginning of a world-class public space that’s available to everyone, whether you’re attending a show at the new theatre, work in one of the nearby offices or are simply passing by.”

Picture: a CGI showing the full extent of the Olympia masterplan with its exhibition halls and new glass canopy. Image Credit: © Heatherwick Studio

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 29 April 2025

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