London Aquatics Centre

The London Aquatics Centre stands in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, a modern indoor facility with two 50-metre swimming pools and a 25-metre diving pool. Designed by architect Zaha Hadid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, it hosted swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. After the Games, the centre was adapted for public use and reopened in March 2014. The building’s wave-like roof covers 1,040 square metres and shelters three pools, including a deep competition pool with a movable floor. The diving pool features platforms at heights of 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 metres, along with springboards. Jacques Rogge, then IOC President, called the centre a masterpiece during the Olympics. Construction involved 3,200 tonnes of steel and 30,000 timber ceiling sections, with costs rising to £269 million. Visitors find a spacious interior with a 50-metre warm-up pool and moveable booms to adjust pool sizes. The exposed concrete finish and precast terracing reflect the skills of Peri and Bell & Webster Concrete. Outside, the park offers paths along the Waterworks River, with the former Olympic Stadium visible nearby. The centre remains a key venue for national and international aquatic events.