{
  "id": 9705565,
  "title": "Olympia reborn: Inside a £1.3bn makeover for a 140-year-old icon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/olympia-reborn-inside-a-1-3bn-makeover-for-a-140-year-old-icon",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T04:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/olympia-reborn-inside-a-1-3bn-makeover-for-a-140-year-old-icon/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Olympia, a 140-year-old Victorian building, has undergone a £1.3bn makeover to become a modern, mixed-use destination. Opened in 1886, Olympia has been a venue for trade fairs, high-profile performances by artists like Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, and other events. Now, thanks to investments from Yoo Capital and DFI and the masterplan by Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC, the site has expanded with 2.5 acres of new public streets, walkways, and terraces. The Grade II-listed halls, which can accommodate 20,000 people, have remained operational throughout the construction. On the site, there are now two hotels, a 3,800-capacity music venue, and a 1,575-seat theatre set to open in 2027, claiming to be the largest to open in almost 50 years.\n\nWith these additions, the site is expected to draw around 10 million visitors annually, contributing over £600 million to the UK economy. The ambitious project is described by Olympia CEO Michael Volkert as \"a labour of love,\" aiming to create a mixed-use estate that opens up to the community. The 550,000 sq ft of office space above the historic halls is connected to the historic halls by floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces.\n\nOlympia's new focus is on creating experiences that cater to a wide range of events and audiences. CEO Volkert emphasizes that the building is in the \"experience business,\" aiming to be different every day depending on the event or occasion. Events coordinator Alex Lewis shares his excitement about the project, stating that working at Olympia allows him to be part of something truly exciting in London, combining heritage with creativity. The aim is to be a host, not just a venue, offering a mixed-use destination for all to enjoy.",
  "summary": "Bringing a Victorian building into the modern age was a labour of love, but the method was “deceptively simple”, Olympia CEO Michael Volkert tells Andrew Busby Opened in 1886 as a Victorian temple to spectacle – trade fairs, Vivienne Westwood’s first runway show, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix under the same cast-iron roof – Olympia [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}