Impact of pavilion design on sustainable outcomes
At a price tag of $50 billion, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games was the most expensive winter games in history, but with stories of facilities from previous Olympic Games going unused, KLH Sustainability decided to look into the impact of temporary structures and pavilion design on sustainable outcomes.
Calculating the carbon footprint of temporary structures can be the first step any organisation takes when deciding on approaches to their pavilion design. An increasing number of organisations are starting to monitor their carbon footprint in order to limit their environmental impact and improve their reputation amongst shareholders and customers.
KLH Sustainability carried out a life-cycle carbon footprinting analysis of two approaches to pavilion design and their impact on sustainable outcomes. The results showed that in both approaches, the embodied carbon associated with material production is by far the biggest contributor to overall lifecycle carbon emissions (approximately 72%) and that by optimising the use of hire components the embodied carbon of construction can be reduced by 58%.
The analysis showed that minimising material consumption through intelligent design and engineering, delivers benefits further down the line. These include; a reduction in fuel consumption during construction, low waste generation, reduction in build time and reduction in supply chain risk. During the life-cycle carbon footprinting analysis, lessons were learned from each stage; from concept to procurement, construction, deconstruction and disposal. Lesson such as; redefining the endpoint as the removal of the temporary pavilion rather than the event itself to optimise design for deconstruction and reallocation of assets to charity groups; to considering the location of recycling facilities during the deconstruction and disposal stage.
This article was created by Chloe Souque of --KLH Sustainability as part of an ongoing series of posts for Designing Buildings Wiki.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.