A disused swimming pool at a London college has been transformed into a light-filled,timber-framed education hub,exemplifying how obsolete sports facilities can be reimagined for contemporary academic life. In this project, covered by Designboom, the former pool basin and surrounding deck are repurposed as flexible teaching, social, and exhibition spaces, retaining traces of the original structure while introducing a warm, lasting material palette. The conversion responds to growing pressure on urban campuses to expand capacity without new-build growth,using adaptive reuse and engineered timber to create a low-carbon,multi-functional environment that supports new modes of learning and collaboration.
Adaptive reuse of a disused swimming pool to create a flexible education hub for London students
Once echoing with the sounds of splashing water and lifeguard whistles, the sunken volume of the former pool now reads as a warm, timber-lined arena for collaboration. The architects retained the original concrete shell, inserting a lightweight structural frame of laminated wood that steps down in terraces where lane markers once ran. These cascading platforms host a mix of informal seating, seminar bays, and plug-in workstations, while overhead, new skylights wash the space in diffuse daylight, dramatically reducing the need for artificial lighting. Strategic insertions-such as acoustic timber baffles, exposed services painted in muted tones, and retractable partitions-enable the interior to flip rapidly between quiet study, project crits, and public events.
- Reclaimed depth used as a naturally tiered lecture and performance zone.
- Demountable timber modules that can be rearranged for workshops or exhibitions.
- Shared digital infrastructure serving art, design, and technology cohorts concurrently.
- Low-carbon materials and passive ventilation strategies integrated into the original shell.
| Zone | Former Use | New Function |
|---|---|---|
| Main pool basin | Swimming lanes | Tiered teaching & event forum |
| Perimeter deck | Walkway & seating | Flexible studio and co-working ring |
| Diving end | Diving platforms | Maker zone with light fabrication tools |
Timber structure and daylight strategies that transform the aquatic hall into a warm learning environment
The once-echoing natatorium is now lined with exposed glulam beams and cross-laminated timber panels that act as both structure and spatial choreography.These warm, honey-toned surfaces replace the reflective harshness of tiles, absorbing sound and softening the acoustics for seminars, critiques, and informal gatherings.Deep timber joists frame generous roof apertures that funnel daylight across the former pool shell, turning the basin into a sunlit forum rather than a void. At key points, engineered timber ribs double as shelving, seating, or display rails, giving the hall a tactile, didactic character where the structure itself becomes a teaching tool for architecture and design students.
Targeted daylighting devices modulate the once-glaring light typical of aquatic halls into a layered, studio-quality illumination. North-facing rooflights and clerestory bands wash the timber soffits with diffuse brightness, while adjustable baffles and louvers in darker-stained wood tune contrast for digital work and projection. This choreography of light and surface is reinforced by integrated learning pockets along the perimeter:
- Window benches carved into the former pool edge for quiet study
- Timber light shelves that bounce sun deeper into the plan
- Perforated balustrades filtering light into lower-level breakout zones
- Rooftop lanterns that act as vertical landmarks and ventilation stacks
| Element | Timber Role | Daylight Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Roof ribs | Primary span & acoustic diffuser | Guides light along the hall |
| Wall fins | Secondary bracing | Breaks glare, adds shadow depth |
| Window seats | Occupancy & storage | Anchors study zones in natural light |
| Light shelves | Integrated trim | Bounces daylight to central floor |
Acoustic, thermal and spatial design moves to support diverse teaching modes and community use
Within the timber hall that now occupies the footprint of the former pool, the design team coordinates sound, temperature, and circulation to allow quiet seminars, hands-on workshops, and evening performances to coexist. Acoustic baffles are suspended between glulam beams, while perforated timber linings conceal absorbent panels, cutting reverberation without dulling the room’s lively character. Opening skylights and high-level vents work with underfloor heating in the retained pool basin, creating a gentle stack effect that keeps air moving during busy events. Generous sliding partitions allow the hall to be split into smaller teaching pods or opened into a single volume, with lighting tracks and plug-and-play AV rails embedded in the structure so tutors can switch from lecture to critique to screening with minimal setup time.
- Acoustic zoning separates quiet study corners from louder maker areas.
- Mixed-mode ventilation combines natural airflow with discreet mechanical support.
- Mobile furnishings on castors enable rapid reconfiguration between classes.
- After-hours access lets local groups occupy the space independently.
| Mode | Capacity | Key Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 120 people | Partitions open, focused lighting |
| Studio | 40 people | Acoustic pods, task lamps |
| Community event | 150 people | Full hall, boosted ventilation |
Thermal comfort is fine-tuned for both all-day teaching and shorter public events, with sensors monitoring occupancy, CO₂ levels, and internal gains from equipment. The former pool’s concrete shell acts as a thermal buffer, its mass tempering spikes in heat or cold, while the lightweight timber superstructure responds quickly to changes in use. Storage bays tucked into the old changing-room line hold folding tiers, exhibition walls, and acoustic screens, supporting everything from degree shows to neighborhood assemblies. In this way, the once single-purpose pool emerges as a calm, high-performance backdrop where diverse learning formats and community rituals can unfold without competing for space, light, or audibility.
Recommendations for retrofitting institutional sports facilities into low carbon multi function academic spaces
Transforming legacy sports volumes into low‑carbon hubs for learning begins with working with the existing shell rather than against it.Deep structural reuse of pool tanks, spectator galleries, and plant rooms dramatically cuts embodied carbon, especially when paired with a new mass‑timber superstructure that drops into the cleared basin like stage scenery. Designers can strip back finishes to expose concrete and brickwork,then wrap only where essential with bio‑based insulation and breathable linings,allowing the building to run at more forgiving temperatures. Passive strategies – north‑light monitors over the former pool, acoustic baffles suspended beneath lightweight trusses, and cross‑ventilation through reopened clerestories – reduce dependence on mechanical cooling while maintaining comfort for quiet study, workshops, and public events.
To unlock multi‑function potential, retrofit schemes should choreograph a gradient of activities from intense to contemplative, using timber partitions, sliding walls, and level changes inherited from the pool bowl to define zones without heavy construction. Integrating plug‑and‑play services in raised timber walkways, rather than chasing ducts through the old concrete frame, keeps future adaptation simple and low‑impact. A material palette of locally sourced timber, recycled sports flooring, and demountable furniture supports circularity and enables overnight reconfiguration from lecture hall to exhibition gallery. Clear governance – from maintenance of hybrid ventilation systems to community access policies – ensures the reimagined facility remains resilient, inclusive, and educationally productive across its full life cycle.
- Reuse the frame: Prioritize structural retention to minimize demolition and waste.
- Build in timber: Insert light, flexible CLT or glulam elements for new floors and mezzanines.
- Design for change: Use movable partitions, modular furniture, and accessible services.
- Maximize daylight: Reopen blocked glazing and add rooflights aligned to learning zones.
- Cut operational carbon: Pair heat pumps with improved airtightness and natural ventilation.
| Strategy | Carbon Benefit | Academic Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Retain pool structure | Lower embodied emissions | Large-span studios |
| Timber infill floors | Bio-based carbon storage | Quiet seminar decks |
| Hybrid ventilation | Reduced energy demand | Healthier indoor climate |
| Modular partitions | Less future fit‑out waste | Rapid reconfiguration |
In Retrospect
As this enterprising retrofit settles into campus life, it offers a clear snapshot of where contemporary educational architecture is headed: away from single-purpose, resource-heavy spaces and toward adaptable, materially conscious environments that can evolve with their users. By turning a disused swimming pool into a flexible timber hub, the project not only extends the life of an existing structure, but also foregrounds wellbeing, carbon reduction and spatial versatility as core design drivers.
In a city where land is scarce and demolition remains the default response to obsolescence, the London college’s new learning space stands as a persuasive argument for reuse over replacement. It suggests that the future of campus design may lie less in building more, and more in looking again at what is already there.
