With one year to go to the Olympics and the unveiling this week of the new Olympic pool in London, work has started on Aberdeen’s very own Aquatics Centre.
GRAHAM Construction, which is in the final stages of completing the refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, took possession of the site of the former Linksfield Academy and swimming pool earlier in the week, and has started planning the new build.
The Centre will be the second phase of the Aberdeen Sports Village development, building on the success of the £28 million regional sports centre which opened in August 2009 and is a partnership between the University, sportscotland and Aberdeen City Council.
It will provide long lane training opportunities for elite swimmers who currently have no facilities north of Stirling and provide a community facility that will encourage participation in water-based activities at all ages and abilities.
David Beattie, CEO of Aberdeen Sports Village, said: “We are delighted to announce the commencement of work on the Aquatics Centre and at such an important time for sport in the UK, it is fantastic to see our vision now starting to become a reality.”
The first phase of the works will encompass the demolition of the existing Linksfield Academy and Pool. Opening of the Aquatics Centre is planned for early 2014.
Neil McFarlane, Regional Director at GRAHAM Construction said: “The new Aquatics Centre will be a state-of-the-art facility for Aberdeen and we are proud to be delivering it on behalf of Aberdeen Sports Village.
“Demolition work has commenced and we look forward to clearing the site before embarking on the construction of this iconic new facility for the north-east.”