A host of leading architecture practices feature on the shortlist – revealed today (12 December) – for the competition to design a culture and education quarter at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Stirling Prize Winner and recently announced Architect of the Year Haworth Tompkins features in one of the six star-studded teams vying for the project, with David Chipperfield Architects and Alison Brooks also in contention.

Billed as the ‘Olympicopolis’, the project will be situated on the former 2012 Olympics site showcasing London’s ‘exceptional art, dance, history, craft, science, technology and cutting edge design’.

Although visitors to the park are already able to enjoy its parklands, waterways, remaining sporting venues and the ArcelorMittal Orbit viewing attraction, the new £400m (US$650m, €503m) venue is an all encompassing next step of London’s Olympic Legacy. The initiative has strong government backing, with chancellor George Osborne recently pledging £141m (US$222m, €178m) of funding for the project in his Autumn Statement.

Several high profile partners are involved in the scheme so far including; The Victoria and Albert Museum, Sadler’s Wells dance theatre and University of the Arts London. University College London will also be building a new campus adjacent to the Stratford Waterfront site.

The two-stage competition to design the project, run by Malcolm Reading Consultants, was launched in September. A total of 125 architects featured in the 43 entries to the contest, with the final six teams now required to submit concept designs by Easter 2015. The winner is due to be announced in late Spring.

£400m ‘Olympicopolis’ design competition now open