London Aquatics Centre
- Client Name
- London Aquatics Centre
- Location
- London - UK
- Door Number
- 60 + GRP doors
- Additional Products
- Ironmongery
Requirements
Construction of the £240m London Aquatics Centre began in 2008 and was completed in July 2011. The facility was built by Balfour Beatty and is a very distinctive design with the wave-like roof that makes it a stand out feature at the south east corner of the London Olympic Park.
During the London 2012 Games, the Aquatics Centre will be the venue for the swimming, paralympic swimming, diving and synchronised swimming. The building houses a 50m competition pool, 25m competition diving pool, a 50m pool and a ‘dry’ warm-up area for divers.
Dortek won a very prestigious order to supply the waterproof glass reinforced polyester (GRP) doors surrounding the pool and changing areas.
Solution
Dortek worked with the architects Zaha Hadid for almost 2 years building in some unique features into the door design and went on to work with S&P Architects who are specialists in pool and leisure environments.
Waterproof glass reinforced polyester (GRP) doors are used in a number of hugely diverse applications. The key features of a waterproof door for an Aquatic Centre include:
- A completely encapsulated one piece moulded waterproof door without joins or seams. Door panel will not warp, rust, rot, surface peel or delaminate.
- Bespoke frames to fit flush with the wall finish.
- Concealed waterproof intumescent strip on fire doors. Tested to relevant fire codes.
- Window spacer’s colour matched to doors.
- Hidden fixing detail to doorframes.
- Colour built in during the moulding process. No decoration required throughout the life of the door.
GRP doors are the only suitable doors for these environments; laminate or wood deteriorates rapidly leaving the facility unhygienic.
The project was completed in July 2011 and has been fully tested and commissioned for the London Olympics in 2012.