In 1990, Rounthwaite, Dick & Hadley was chosen in a limited competition to be the prime architect for what would become one of the most acclaimed and well used municipal swimming pools in the country, the London Aquatic Centre. From the outset, public concerns about the suburban site location, traffic, parking, and cost were voiced. Rounthwaite, Dick & Hadley and the City of London staff successfully worked at finding common goals among the often disparate local interest groups. An extremely tight budget meant delaying the construction of the Phase II leisure pool and the tightening up of the change facilities and public spaces, but in the end, the community showed its support for the new facility in the most concrete way possible, by significantly exceeding any of the City projected bather load calculations. The complex includes a 50M X 21M competition pool with a 10M diving tower and a future leisure pool complete with slides, wave action, a zero beach and whirlpools. Spectator Seating is provided along the pool edge of the gallery while the entrance and dressing rooms are on the side by way of a controlled stair. Adjacent to the stair are administrative offices and further along are washrooms and a snack bar. Built over the offices and washrooms is a large exercise area for dry training. The swimming pool has two bulkheads and a 10M X 21M movable floor for maximum flexibility of uses. Technical features of the design include an ozone water purification system widely used in Europe but unique to Canada, reducing the smell of chlorine and its corrosive reaction to exposed surfaces. Heat recovery systems have also be included to reduce operating costs. Leisure features have been built into the competition pool until such a time as the leisure pool is built. A movable floor in the shallow end can be raised to create shallow water for children and barrier free access, a whirlpool is located on the pool deck and inserts were installed for a future water slide. The facility is a hit and London now has one of the premier Olympic aquatic facilities in the country, a key part of the City of London's bid to attract the 2001 Canada Summer Games.
