PKL Powers 20,000m² Temporary Kitchen for Beijing 2008, Feeding 26,000 Athletes, Staff, and Guests

The Beijing Summer Games was the largest ever – and this was also true of the athletes dining facility in the Games Village. There were 16,000 athletes and officials from 204 countries, as well as 10,000 staff and guests – all to be fed 24 hours a day.

Working through the master caterer, PKL were responsible for the design liaison, specification, supply, installation and 24 hour maintenance of all the foodservice equipment and coolroom facilities in an area that covered 20,000 sqm or three soccer pitches.

To ensure a successful delivery, PKL established a project office in Beijing 12 months before the Games began. In addition to permanent PKL management and engineering staff, a team of Chinese project managers, translators and administrators were employed to overcome any language, cultural and technical hurdles. All facilities were designed in full compliance with local fire, hygiene and construction standards.

The key operational factor of this project was the ability of PKL to utilise prefabricated complex Portable Kitchen modules, and ship them worldwide quickly and cost effectively. All the equipment used was from the PKL hire fleet and at the end of the Games was re-hired to other projects.