Having provided the masterplan for London's winning bid, EDAW is leading the consortium working on the Legacy Masterplan Framework, which will deliver a platform for the regeneration of one of the UK's poorest areas: Lower Lea Valley. "Our objective is to lay the groundwork for sustainable communities that will offer current residents a greatly improved quality of life," says Jason Prior, EDAW's president and principal-in-charge of the project. Following the Games, residents should enjoy a legacy of dramatically improved physical environments, social infrastructure, and economic viability.

Achieving these goals is no small undertaking. "The project constitutes one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe," says Prior. "To make sure that the plan is aligned with community needs, we've facilitated a very large public consultation process in London. Community involvement is critical to the success of a project like this." By project’s end, the Olympic Zone will include the largest urban park (200 hectares) built in Europe in 150 years. But what will the Olympic legacy mean to people in the surrounding communities?

The economic benefits of the 2012 Olympics are estimated to include 7,000 Olympic construction jobs and 11,000 post-Games jobs. New training programs are planned to help prepare the local population for job opportunities. Other benefits will include 9,000 new homes, new community facilities, and ten upgraded or new transit lines. A network of footpaths, cycle-ways, canal towpaths, and bridges will add pedestrian and alternative transportation options to improve local quality of life and promote sustainable living.

"Beyond its economic and social legacy, the project addresses critical environmental issues," says Prior. "One lasting benefit of the project is the restoration of many kilometers of rivers and waterways, providing recreation opportunities and natural habitat creation." The project also adds new green space for parkland, and includes the decontamination of millions of cubic meters of site material.

EDAW's efforts on the 2012 Olympics began with preparing planning applications and securing permission from the five Lower Lea Valley boroughs to help London win the Games. Subsequent design of the Olympic park and site-wide infrastructure will be showcased during the Games. But ultimately, it's the Legacy planning that will affect the city most profoundly. "This is an enormous and complex project, involving coordination among a host of stakeholders," notes Jason. "But every ounce of effort is worthwhile if we can create a vibrant, sustainable piece of city that capitalizes on the public investment in the Olympic infrastructure."