Nigel Huddleston, the Minister for Sport and Tourism joined the leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Rajbir Singh, and others to mark the laying of the first of 190,000 pool tiles at the £73m Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick.
With less than a year till handover, the focus is on completing the interior of the facility and finishing its three pools.
Initially starting on site in September 2019, Wates Construction, which procured the project through SCAPE, has completed the external structure and roof of the site, which included installing 14 steel trusses, each spanning 75m and weighing around 30 tonnes. The team has also installed the 10m dive tower earlier in the year and recent work has included the completion of the building facades. Internally, high-level works within the pool hall have been ongoing, including lighting, fire alarm cabling and ventilation and heating duct work.
Sandwell Aquatics Centre is a landmark development for the Midlands, featuring the only Olympic-sized pool in the region and has been designed to create a lasting legacy for community health and wellbeing, with its three pools and seats for up to 1,000 spectators.
Other facilities at the aquatics centre will include three activity studios, two 4-court sports halls, a 108-station fitness suite with a 25-station ladies-only gym, dry diving facilities, an indoor cycling studio, a new football pitch, a café, and changing facilities including a sauna and steam room. Externally, a new urban park will feature a children’s play area.
The project is on schedule and set to complete in spring 2022, before opening to the public in the spring of 2023.
