Wrexham Waterworld Leisure & Activity Centre

Diamond shaped in plan with black brick plinth level (‘Darstone’ bricks made in Wrexham) and glazed and panelled curtain walls separated by concrete columns or “mullions” under concrete shell hyberbolic paraboloid (hypar) roof. The roof covers an area in plan of 154 feet by 154 feet with its high corners to the east and west 52 feet above the low corners to the north and south. Its weight rests on the low corners which are supported on ‘T’ shaped concrete abutment walls and are attached to concrete tie beams that are continuous with the first-floor pool level projecting from the envelope of the building. Beyond the low corners are freestanding square concrete rain-water catchers.

East corner is a fully glazed curve from the plinth to the roof where it joins a clerestory around the whole building. Concrete walls to sides with panelled cladding. Horizontal slit three-pane windows flank the main light with five either side at first floor level and three either side a level above. Covered porch staff entrances in plinth to either side of glazed corner.

West corner facing the car park retains high level panel glazing linking to the clerestory but the original pattern of glazing and concrete bands was lost when a stepped extension to the reception area was added in 1997. Beyond this on southwest side is a slope down to vehicle door access to the plant room. Four surviving original windows corresponding to the upper lights on the east sides, paired to either side of the west corner.

Principal space is the pool hall at first floor level, with main pool, learner’s pool and pleasure pool area (originally the diving pool, now compartmentalised into water slide, rapids and central jacuzzi). The main pool’s measurements were given at construction as being 42 feet wide (matching the length of the learner pool) and 33 1/3 meters length. The pool has two shallow ends and is deepest at its middle. The hypar roof sweeps low over the learner pool at the north corner and one of the shallow ends of the main pool at the south corner to create spaces for swimming lessons, with its high glazed corners over the former diving area to the east and the spectators’ area to the west, giving a grander space for large sporting events.

Ground floor reception, café, gymnasium and staff office areas are substantially modernised. Plant room has its main area directly below the learner’s pool and extends between and around the unaltered concrete basins for the main pool and diving pool (as was).