Tokyo's new National Stadium Project Dir Jim Heverin said that introducing major changes in the design is a "huge risk and would delay construction," according to KYODO. Designed by architect Zaha Hadid, the stadium is to be used for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Critics are "calling for a redesign of the stadium that would provide a cost-cutting solution and also shorten construction time." Heverin said last Friday that it is "'absolutely' possible to meet the spring 2019 completion deadline." However, Heverin said, “If you introduce a major change, and over 45 percent of this project is structure, you delay statutory approval, you have to do significant redesign, and all of that takes time. You probably lose a year, and we need to start on site this year." Another "widely discussed" suggestion is "postponing construction of the retractable roof, which fits in the center of the stadium roof -- until after the major sports events." Heverin "sees this as a reasonable approach" to relieving the time pressure on contractors. He said, "In Tokyo, you have a very clear brief, that you are very focused on the after-usage first, and then modifying it for the Games and the Rugby World Cup" (KYODO, 6/17).
