Dollan Baths
Encyclopedia
Dollan Aqua Centre is a 20th-century category A listed building in East Kilbride
, Scotland
.
Designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell
, it was opened in 1968 as Scotland's first 50 metre (although not Olympic standard
) swimming pool
. It consists principally of pre-stressed concrete
and imitates a colossal marquee - the vaulted
324 ft parabolic
arched roof appears to be held down by pairs of 'V' shaped-strut
s that meet the ground at a 30° angle.
Buchanan Campbell admitted that he had been influenced by the architecture of the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, Japan
and the designs by Kenzo Tange
for the gymnasium there.
In 1993 the international conservation organisation DOCOMOMO listed Dollan Baths as one of sixty key monuments in Scottish post-war architecture. It was listed in 2002 (as Dollan Aqua Centre) as a Category A building by Historic Scotland
.
Structural engineering surveys showed that parts of the pool surround and pool tank were in a state of near collapse and emergency work had to be carried out to install temporary structural supports. About one year later the Centre was closed,in October 2008,to allow a substantial programme, consisting of structural repairs and replacements and the installation of new structural supports, to be carried out.
This required a significant amount of structural engineering design input. Fortunately the structure of the unique roof was not effected.
At the same time substantial redesign and replacement of heating and ventilation and pool water treatment engineering services was carried out.
This part of the work included; the installation of new high efficiency gas fired boilers, and the installation of a new ventilation system for the swimming pool hall,and the installation of a combined heat and power system, and the installation of new water filters and high efficiency pumps as part of an upgraded pool water treatment system.
Electrical engineering and lighting systems were almost entirely replaced throughout the building.
The external roof covering was replaced and an additional layer of thermal insulation was added to reduce heat loss from the roof and to provide extra protection for the roof structure.
New lockers were provided for the changing rooms and the health suite, and new tiles for the pool and health suite.
The repair work began in July 2009 and the Aqua Centre re-opened on May 28, 2011 after the completion of a major repair and refurbishment contract costing over £6.5 million.
Facilities include swimming pool with moveable floor, health suite and fitness gyms (2), creche, cafe. gym.
The Centre is the intended host for the swimming events for the 2011 International Children's Games
.
East Kilbride
East Kilbride is a large suburban town in the South Lanarkshire council area, in the West Central Lowlands of Scotland. Designated as Scotland's first new town in 1947, it forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell
Alexander Buchanan Campbell
Alexander Buchanan Campbell was a Scottish architect. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland.He studied at the Glasgow School of Art and was apprenticed to the firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia....
, it was opened in 1968 as Scotland's first 50 metre (although not Olympic standard
Olympic size swimming pool
An Olympic-size swimming pool is the type of swimming pool used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is 50 meters in length. This is typically referred to as "long course", delineating it from "short course" which applies to competitions in pools that are either 25 meters or 25 yards in...
) swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
. It consists principally of pre-stressed concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
and imitates a colossal marquee - the vaulted
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
324 ft parabolic
Parabola
In mathematics, the parabola is a conic section, the intersection of a right circular conical surface and a plane parallel to a generating straight line of that surface...
arched roof appears to be held down by pairs of 'V' shaped-strut
Strut
A strut is a structural component designed to resist longitudinal compression. Struts provide outwards-facing support in their lengthwise direction, which can be used to keep two other components separate, performing the opposite function of a tie...
s that meet the ground at a 30° angle.
Buchanan Campbell admitted that he had been influenced by the architecture of the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the designs by Kenzo Tange
Kenzo Tange
was a Japanese architect, and winner of the 1987 Pritzker Prize for architecture. He was one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, combining traditional Japanese styles with modernism, and designed major buildings on five continents. Tange was also an influential protagonist of...
for the gymnasium there.
In 1993 the international conservation organisation DOCOMOMO listed Dollan Baths as one of sixty key monuments in Scottish post-war architecture. It was listed in 2002 (as Dollan Aqua Centre) as a Category A building by Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
.
Structural engineering surveys showed that parts of the pool surround and pool tank were in a state of near collapse and emergency work had to be carried out to install temporary structural supports. About one year later the Centre was closed,in October 2008,to allow a substantial programme, consisting of structural repairs and replacements and the installation of new structural supports, to be carried out.
This required a significant amount of structural engineering design input. Fortunately the structure of the unique roof was not effected.
At the same time substantial redesign and replacement of heating and ventilation and pool water treatment engineering services was carried out.
This part of the work included; the installation of new high efficiency gas fired boilers, and the installation of a new ventilation system for the swimming pool hall,and the installation of a combined heat and power system, and the installation of new water filters and high efficiency pumps as part of an upgraded pool water treatment system.
Electrical engineering and lighting systems were almost entirely replaced throughout the building.
The external roof covering was replaced and an additional layer of thermal insulation was added to reduce heat loss from the roof and to provide extra protection for the roof structure.
New lockers were provided for the changing rooms and the health suite, and new tiles for the pool and health suite.
The repair work began in July 2009 and the Aqua Centre re-opened on May 28, 2011 after the completion of a major repair and refurbishment contract costing over £6.5 million.
Facilities include swimming pool with moveable floor, health suite and fitness gyms (2), creche, cafe. gym.
The Centre is the intended host for the swimming events for the 2011 International Children's Games
International Children's Games
The International Children's Games is an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event held every year where children from cities around the world and between the ages of 12 and 15 participate in a variety of sports.-History:...
.