Inclusive design for the built environment was right at the heart of the vision for The Games, as was a commitment to delivering the project using only fully-certified timber for a truly sustainable build.
After successfully completing the tough selection process required to become one of the 16 Timber Panel Member companies to supply timber to the Olympic venues, Marley was delighted to supply over 78,000 linear metres of anti-slip timber decking CitiDeck® as part of the Olympic Park build. Delivered and installed through 4 specialist contractors over 2 years, the deck boards were walked on by hundreds of thousands of visitors for the duration of the games.
Initial concerns over the traditional non-slip decking were that the castellations made the ride uneven and uncomfortable for wheelchair users and the high level of grip would make change in surface difficult for some pedestrians, in particular the less able.
Whilst these product features provide exceptional performance and superior slip resistance in country rural areas (such as boardwalks, bridleways and footpaths), they did not help meet the ODA objectives of an inclusive Olympic park for all visitors.