Making a Method

We've started work on the first few prototypes of the supports that will fasten Cyclodrome's track into place. This kind of trial construction gives us valuable experience, teaching us which methods are most efficient and least prone to errors. We have enough equipment and labor for a large and complex building process, and so want to create the best process that we can. To help us develop our process, we opted to create a prototype of the most challenging part of the track - the transition between gently-sloped straight track and sharply-angled turns.

The characteristics of this part of the track are crucial to the success of Cyclodrome. If the transition from a gentle slope to the sharp slope of the turns is too long, riders could be guided over the turns instead of around them. If the transition is too quick, it could be very hard to transition from track to curve and back again. Some of the team spent some extra time double-checking our design calculations and refining the geometry of the track to ensure a balanced transition.

To prepare for the arrival of prototype sections and set the stage for final construction, another group has expanded on previous work to create a complete floor layout. When final construction of Cyclodrome begins, the position of every support will have been measured and marked on the construction site. We have likewise created a cataloging system to identify each and every unique support and track piece and match them to their position on the site for a smooth fit.

The supports themselves are made of 2x4 lumber, cut to fit precisely into whichever angle is necessary for their section of track. To ensure a strong and stable frame able to endure the intense pressure of racing bikes, the connections were held together with plates screwed in from multiple directions and further reinforced with heavy-duty wood glue. The result is a series of extremely sturdy structural members, able to take the forces that will be applied to the track. In the coming days we'll begin cutting the track itself for the first time, but for now we have a working method to support it.

Above: A finished support.

The Work Begins

Initial planning has begun and we are ready to get this started. The first step is to layout the plan for the velodrome in the King Pavilion.




Some paid close attention to the details of the layout, while others



kept busy in another fashion.


Now that the track has been laid out and a plan has been established, the next step is to build a full scale mock up of a section of the velodrome.

More about King Pavilion

The King Pavilion is one of the newest buildings at Iowa State, and the newest addition to the College of Design, supplementing and expanding the Design Building that has served the college for over 30 years. Opened in 2009, the building showcases many emerging methods in green design and technology. The King Pavilion is an ideal site for our project because its interior revolves around an open core, filled only with movable furniture and partitions.As such, there is ample room for a large, dynamic project.

Another factor in our choice of the King Pavilion is its immediate proximity to the Design College's primary woodworking shop and materials loading dock. This means that during construction, components of the velodrome can be rapidly delivered, fabricated, assembled and adjusted without ever leaving the site.

It is a testament to how compact the Cyclodrome will be that while there is ample room for spectators, the space we have chosen for our initial construction is only 1200 square feet in size - barely the size of ten typical parking spaces. As the nation's smallest velodrome, Cyclodrome will be a fast, close-quarters experience for riders and builders alike, and we felt that building the velodrome indoors would best reflect that part of its character.

All about Cyclodrome

Welcome to Cyclodrome, the architectural project to build the nation's smallest velodrome right here at Iowa State! Whether you're one of the team sharing updates or just visiting, we're happy to have you following along.

Above: Some of the Cyclodrome team

 Who We Are

We are a team of graduate students in architecture at Iowa State University. We have come to architecture with skills and education from a broad range of backgrounds, including landscape architecture, interior design, physics, art history, engineering, sculpture, woodworking and language studies. We will be bringing together all of those skills to design, build and race a working velodrome in our studio from start to finish over the course of the summer.

Our Project

Our velodrome will be a "mini-drome" with a total track run of ~25 meters, offering a different experience from larger, more traditional velodromes. It will be designed to be disassembled and rebuilt elsewhere as needed.

The velodrome is being built on behalf of the Des Moines Bike Collective, a non-profit organization that works to make bicycling a more visible and enjoyable part of life in and around Central Iowa. The DMBC will be able to use the velodrome to raise awareness of cycling and promote educational and outreach events.

Our Site

The velodrome will be designed and built in King Pavilion, right here at the Design College at Iowa State University. Watch this spot as it goes from an empty studio to a complete, working velodrome in the course of a summer! We will be designing and documenting our process every step of the way, so you can see how the velodrome will come together. All in all, it will be an exciting and extraordinary summer, so stay tuned!