Bing Thom Architects, now Revery Architecture, SHAPE Architecture
Size6,503 square metres
OwnerCity of Surrey
Structural EngineerStructureCraft
General ContractorStructureCraft
Structural systemsHybrid / OtherLow riseMass timberPassive House / High performancePrefabricated
Project materialsGlue-laminated timber (Glulam)Laminated strand lumber (LSL)Plywood
The Guildford Aquatic Centre in northeast Surrey is an addition to the Guildford Recreation Centre. The interior of the building is breathtakingly white, with a series of 29-metre-long stained white wood trusses overhead. The blue of the 50-metre-long competitive lap pool is in stark relief against the white ceiling and walls.
The exposed, white-stained ceiling trusses were made from prefabricated engineered wood products. The top and bottom chords of the trusses are made from glulam, with LSL webbing and plywood decking. The trusses conceal pre-installed mechanical ducts, sprinklers, uplighting and acoustic ceiling insulation. There are built-in catwalks to allow access. The trusses are stained and painted white but display a textured wood pattern, warming up the stark whiteness of this Zen-like aquatic centre. The prefabricated structure was erected in 12 days.