Flag single ply for iconic Olympics training venue

The rejuvenation of the the iconic Grade II-listed Uxbridge Lido, which had been closed for more than ten years, has produced a new leisure complex in West London which will be used by Britain’s leading swimmers in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Commonwealth gold medalist and TV presenter Sharron Davies helped main contractor Leadbitter get the work off to a flying start by cutting the ceremonial first turf of the London Borough of Hillingdon’s £25 million development. The local authority provided £22 million of the scheme’s funding, with the London Development Agency, Sport England and the Heritage Lottery Fund making up the remainder. Though the original Lido was used for the 1948 London Olympiad, the new Olympic-sized pool is the first to be built in West London for more than 40 years. The formal opening ceremony was performed by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

The exciting design and build scheme was undertaken by the Leadbitter Group with a team headed by renowned sport and leisure sector architects Faulkner Brown. 3,300 m² of Flag-Soprema’s Flagon SV 1.2mm PVC single ply membrane was installed by envelope contractor M.A.R.S (Construction) Ltd to provide a long-term waterproofing solution for roofs on 7 levels. M.A.R.S. had worked alongside Flag-Soprema in their much publicised success re-roofing the Clissold Leisure Centre. The thermoplastic, synthetic liner was fully adhered and heat seamed throughout, providing a puncture, rot and weather resistant covering. In terms of the roof’s complexity, the membrane had to accommodate complex detailing while retaining exceptional dimensional stability and weather resistance. It was also used over the existing surface of the old grandstand.

Flag-Soprema Technical Manager Ro Harper commented: “Warranty and workmanship standards were key elements of this project and we therefore took considerable care to ensure that the scope of our underwriting conditions were fully understood in relation to those of our competitors. The installation has a 15-year warranty but in terms of life expectancy the membrane should match that of the building itself.”

In addition to restoration of the existing 1930’s open air pool, the new leisure facilities include the 50 metre indoor pool (with moveable floor), health and fitness suite, community sports hall, café, crèche and an athletics stadium,. The extensive refurbishment of the12-sided 'star' swimming pool was considered particularly important as it is the only remaining example in the country. Leadbitter has carefully restored the Lido's distinctive features so the survival of the grandstands, cascades and entrance will remain as a lasting legacy to G Percy Trentham’s 1935 'Moderne' style design.

The build time of 2 years and £25 million stands in stark contrast to the original five months and £24,500 in 1935. However, the site had to be cleared of many old structures and conservation work was required to relocate a newt-migration route before work could begin. In addition to routine site monitoring by Flag-Soprema, work on the site was, therefore, closely monitored by English Heritage. M.A.R.S. Construction Managing Director Robin Harris commented: “The end result is a building combining architectural features of two eras and a roof which stands as an example of all that is best in roofing today”.