The Olympic and Paralympic Village opens to receive the first athletes for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Following a successful opening to team officials on the 9th July 2012, the Village will welcome the first athletes of the total 16,000 Games time residents, and marks a major milestone in Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands’ ongoing involvement with this new London quarter. Working with LOCOG, LDS is responsible for the athletes’ temporary overlay accommodation (as part of Team Populous), including the Village Plaza (the social ‘hub’ of the Village) and The Globe (the main centre of athlete recreation in the Village).

Teams will be accommodated in 2,818 ‘gold medal standard’ apartments across 11 residential blocks, each built around a spacious courtyard offering athletes private areas to relax. Two of these legacy apartment buildings were also designed and delivered by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands with the ODA.

Read the Guardian London 2012 blog here.