Archial reveal designs for £10m Southend dive centre and pool to train 2012 athletes
Detailed designs for a £10m state-of-the-art, 25-metre dive centre and swimming pool at Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre, Garons Park, Southend, have been submitted and work is already under way on site.
Lead architects Archial (formerly SMC Charter Architects) have designed the new eight-lane swimming pool and dive pool which will be home to world-class diving facilities with 3m, 5m, 7.5m and 10m diving platforms each of which will be 3m wide to allow for synchronised diving. The swimming pool will also include a moveable floor and a water agitation and air cushion system to enable swimming lessons and exercise classes to take place.
Other features include a leisure pool with water slide, a water shell which sprays water, a massage seat, a small fountain, and a beach-style gradient allowing swimmers to walk from the poolside into the water. Outside the pool, there will be a dry diving training area with a harness and trampolines, and 376 tiered seats including 22 wheelchair spaces for visitors.
Paul Weston, Director at Archial said: "We are delighted to be working with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on this exciting project and are confident that our long-standing experience in the sports and leisure sector will facilitate the success of the development. We believe that our stimulating design will enable all members of the community, whether young or old, to enjoy the swimming pool at the Southend Leisure Centre. We are particularly confident that the training facilities at the leisure centre will enable people to develop their diving and swimming skills.”
Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre has also been selected as a Pre-Games Training Camp for the London 2012 Olympic Games and has been included in an official guide to be distributed to every National Olympic and Paralympics Committee at this years Beijing games.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Culture, Derek Jarvis said: “The new swimming pool, due to open in 2010 will be a terrific bonus for the town, especially as Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre has already been selected as a potential Pre-Games Training Camp for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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