Originally designed by world-renowned, award-winning architect, Zaha Hadid in 2004, London Aquatic Centre’s original concept was that of moving water. It was designed to mirror the riverside landscapes of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
As with all venues built for London 2012, the Centre was designed with legacy in mind. An example of this includes the removable ‘wings’ that brought London Aquatic centre’s spectator capacity up to 17,500 for the Games. These have since been removed in 2014 when the Centre opened to the public.
With the removal of the wings, the Centre still boasts an impressive spectator capacity of up to 2,800, with an additional 1,000 available for major events. The wings’ removal has also seen the installation of 628 panes of glass and eight doors, helping to flood the pool with natural light. Within the centre, it’s not just about the pool, either, with a first-class gym available, making it a fantastic leisure facility for everyone.
Up to 800,000 visitors come through the front doors every year, each of whom will be able to keep track of timings during competitions on the giant screens in reception.
Meanwhile, swimmers will be able to experience a true part of the London 2012 Legacy as the lane ropes, starting blocks and touchpads are the same as those that were used during the Games themselves.
