Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh Building Refurb, Scottish Swimming, Photos, Architect, Address

Royal Commonwealth Pool

Modern Sports Building in Edinburgh design by RMJM Architects, Scotland

page updated 30 Nov 2015

19 Aug 2015 – new photos of this Modern building in Edinburgh:

Royal Commonwealth Pool interior

Commonwealth Pool interior

Royal Commonwealth Pool

Edinburgh Swimming Pool Building

Edinburgh Swimming Pool

Royal Commonwealth Pool

20 Mar 2012

Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh

Royal Commonwealth Pool Renewal

The building has now reopened in plenty of time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The key element of the venue renewal is the upgraded 50m pool.

Royal Commonwealth Pool
building image © Adrian Welch 2006

New features include:-
– 25m diving pool with a moveable floor
– teaching pool
– large gym
– new reception
– cafe
– changing rooms

Commonwealth Pool

International standard swimming pool

Location: 21 Dalkeith Road, southeast Edinburgh

Phone: 0131 667 7211

The Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh is to reopen to the public at the end of March 2012.

Commonwealth Pool
pool photo from RMJM

Date built: 1967
Architect: Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners

Structural Engineers: Ove Arup & Partners

The Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh is open seven days a week

Royal Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh
building image © Adrian Welch 2006

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is the only 50-metre pool / Olympic size swimming pool in Edinburgh.

Photograph – J Dewar Photography:
Edinburgh Swimming Facility

Photograph – H Snoek Photography:
Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh Edinburgh Swimming Baths

In 1993 it was selected by the international conservation organisation DoCoMoMo as one of sixty key Scottish monuments of the post-war period. It was also nominated in 2002 by the Architecture Heritage Society of Scotland as one of the most significant modern contributions to Scottish heritage. These sentiments were echoed in Prospect 100 best modern Scottish buildings, published in 2005.

S&P Architects were the architects and lead consultants for the 2012 refurbishment and were awarded the Scottish Design Award in 2012 for the best reuse of a listed building.

Source: wikipedia

Images from RMJM Architects:
Commonwealth Pool Building Commonwealth Pool
five images + credits above from RMJM 161008

Facilities
Separate children’s pool and diving pool, gym, saunas, fitness classes, martial arts, sports instruction, massage therapies, crèche, soft play area, baby changing facilities and café.

Scottish capital swimming baths
photograph © Adrian Welch

Royal Commonwealth Pool Refurbishment
Date: 2007-
Design: S&P Architects
Construction cost: £30m approx

The refurbishment and upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh was completed in April 2012, according to Buro Happold. The £25m refurbishment of this Grade A listed structure has twice played host to the Commonwealth Games – once in 1970 and again in 1986. The project was initiated by Edinburgh City Council in a bid to upgrade diving facilities ahead of Scotland hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Following a massive renovation programme the building has been transformed into a state of the art sport and leisure facility. It now contains the largest and longest swimming pool in Edinburgh, 50m length, 8 lanes and a normal depth of 2m, which can also be split into two 25m pools with the use of a boom.

The layout of the building has been restored to enhance and promote the use of natural light within the facility as was the intention of the original architects in 1967. The original windows surrounding the perimeter of the building and internally have been retained as has the Terrazzo flooring within the foyer and reception areas.

Diving board columns and staircases have been reinstated to replicate the original diving board layout and the original “hot” seats located around the pools have also been reinstated. The new diving board configuration now meets with international requirements for major diving events.

Reference: http://www.burohappold.com/projects/project/royal-commonwealth-pool-191/

Robert Matthew Architect

Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh architect : Robert Matthew

Robert Matthew : Johnson-Marshall & Partners
British Home Stores, Edinburgh
David Hume Tower, Edinburgh – in the Old Town
Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport, Edinburgh
Lothian Regional Headquarters, Edinburgh
Wester Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh
Stirling University, Airthrey Castle, Stirling

Robert Matthew was London County Council Chief Architect. Working for the LCC made his name and he was instrumental in creating one of the UK’s key 20th century buildings, New Zealand House off Pall Mall, London. Matthew had graduated from Edinburgh College of Art and he returned to Scotland in 1953.

Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners – RMJM (1956-) created some key Edinburgh buildings – notably the Commonwealth Pool and the landmark David Hume Tower. The latter was striking in that it invaded a formal Georgian Square, historic University quarter.

Like another key 20th century Scottish Architect – Isi Metzstein of GK&C – Robert Matthew became Edinburgh University Professor of Architecture.

Robert Matthew worked briefly with another Scottish great, architect Basil Spence, on Queen Elizabeth Square, Hutchestown, Glasgow.

Refurbishment designer : S&P Architects

No larger images – thumbnails only
Edinburgh swimming baths buildings Edinburgh pool RMJM Royal Commonwealth Pool
building images by Adrian Welch

CEC Budget
Money for Royal Commonwealth Pool refurbishment confirmed Feb 2008

Commonwealth Pool context : Pollock Halls Edinburgh

Key Edinburgh building by RMJM: Scottish Parliament

Jenners

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Comments / photos for the Royal Commonwealth Pool Edinburgh building design by RMJM Architects page welcome