London Aquatic Centre
London, ON
This national architectural competition-winning design for an Olympic training facility for swimming and diving has met and exceeded every expectation of the client. Our team developed a simple, direct and virtually maintenance-free ozone system that allowed the facility to operate in one undivided space. This single over-arching vessel contains all the programs of the facility- pool, spectator’s gallery, and administration suites.
Visitors and users enter by a gallery that extends along one side of the building, physically isolating them from the pool but permitting uninterrupted visual access. The gallery contains offices, a snack bar and spectator seating along the front edge. At the higher end of the building is a loft gallery providing additional viewing space, and telescoping seats that may be extended over the wide pool deck. The deep end of the pool has several diving platforms and springboards, with bubblers and observation windows underwater.
Leisure facilities are built temporarily into the competition pool, at the shallow end, a large whirlpool is set into the deck, with terrace doors leading out to a sunken courtyard for sun tanning.
Structure
The open web steel joist roof structure spans 35 meters. It is supported by standard H section columns laterally braced by steel pipes and rods.
Skin
Raked metal shed is composed of a sandwich of two corrugated metal decks, with a waterproof membrane, z-bars holding rigid insulation and an air space in between. The inside shell is steel and the outer anodized aluminum. The building is glazed at both ends.
Mechanical
An ozone water purification system for the pool is used which emits no chemical smell and so eliminated the need for different air handling systems in each area.
Fitments
Telescoping seats on the loft gallery at the higher end of the building provide additional viewing space.
Key Information
Completed
1990
Project Cost
$7.4M
Building Area
3,065m²
33,000ft²
Publications
Canadian Architect – October 1993
London Aquatic Centre
London, ON
This national architectural competition-winning design for an Olympic training facility for swimming and diving has met and exceeded every expectation of the client. Our team developed a simple, direct and virtually maintenance-free ozone system that allowed the facility to operate in one undivided space. This single over-arching vessel contains all the programs of the facility- pool, spectator’s gallery, and administration suites.
Visitors and users enter by a gallery that extends along one side of the building, physically isolating them from the pool but permitting uninterrupted visual access. The gallery contains offices, a snack bar and spectator seating along the front edge. At the higher end of the building is a loft gallery providing additional viewing space, and telescoping seats that may be extended over the wide pool deck. The deep end of the pool has several diving platforms and springboards, with bubblers and observation windows underwater.
Leisure facilities are built temporarily into the competition pool, at the shallow end, a large whirlpool is set into the deck, with terrace doors leading out to a sunken courtyard for sun tanning.
Structure
The open web steel joist roof structure spans 35 meters. It is supported by standard H section columns laterally braced by steel pipes and rods.
Skin
Raked metal shed is composed of a sandwich of two corrugated metal decks, with a waterproof membrane, z-bars holding rigid insulation and an air space in between. The inside shell is steel and the outer anodized aluminum. The building is glazed at both ends.
Mechanical
An ozone water purification system for the pool is used which emits no chemical smell and so eliminated the need for different air handling systems in each area.
Fitments
Telescoping seats on the loft gallery at the higher end of the building provide additional viewing space.
Key Information
Completed
1990
Project Cost
$7.4M
Building Area
3,065m²
33,000ft²
Publications
Canadian Architect – October 1993
