Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) is working with Japanese architecture and engineering firm Nikken Sekkei to submit a fresh bid for the Tokyo Olympic stadium project after their first design was dropped in July.

A new design-and-build competition for the stadium, which is set to host events during the 2020 Olympic games, was launched on 1 September 2015, with a much shorter design and construction schedule.

Revised guidelines will cap the cost at ¥155bn (US$1.3bn, €1.2bn, £850m) representing a significant reduction compared to the ¥250bn (US$2bn, €1.8bn, £1.37bn) estimate for Hadid's initial proposal, which was unceremoniously scrapped by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid soaring construction costs and growing criticism.

The number of seats has been cut back from 72,000 to 68,000, with the option of an additional 12,000 to be added later in the event that Japan wishes to bid to host the football World Cup.

Tokyo-based Nikken Sekkei has worked on the original design since May 2013, leading a team of structural engineering firms and acting as design supervisor alongside Hadid's practice. Nikken Sekkei claims its involvement in the development of the original project together with its knowledge of the site would help deliver the best alternative.

“We believe the best way to respond to the new brief is to maximise the use of the expertise and experience gained by the design team over the past two years,” the firm stated.

Commenting on the revised proposal, ZHA added: “Our team in Japan and the UK have worked closely with Nikken Sekkei to develop a design for the New National Stadium for Japan that meets the government's core principles and it is an honour to be invited by Nikken Sekkei to progress the design together to the revised technical brief.”

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