As fervor from the 2008 Beijing Olympics died down, focus in the past year has turned to the future competition site: London’s new aquatics center for the 2012 summer games.

Though construction on all Olympic venues began a promising two months ahead of schedule, controversy has surrounded the aquatics center. Its architect has faced scrutiny for the cost of her design because the project’s budget nearly quadrupled.

The site, which will have two pools and hold 17,500 spectators, has faced protests by British citizens over the cost, and some local community leaders have refused to put any more money into any of the new Olympic facilities.

Amid accusations that planners knew of the budget overshoot three years before, construction has continued; most recently, builders lifted the aquatics center’s wave-shaped roof.