The RIBA Competitions Office is launching an Invited Design Competition on behalf of Worthing Borough Council, to seek suitable and innovative solutions for the design of a new swimming facility to be built alongside and to replace the town’s existing aging pool complex known locally as the ‘Aquarena’. Worthing Borough Council feel it is essential that the existing pool is retained and kept open to the public during construction of the new facility and they realize this may be a constraint on the design and layout of the new pool. 

The site located adjacent to the seafront and close to the town center is a wonderful development opportunity and the Council is keen to ensure that a first class leisure facility can be provided together with a mixed use development which maximizes the potential of the site and positively enhances this prominent seafront location.

The area of site for the development of the new pool is approx. 4,500 m² . The main design objective for the swimming pool is ‘to create a new swimming complex for Worthing which would be a first class leisure facility for the town. It should be also a landmark building demonstrating civic pride and status.’

This competition seeks expressions of interest from architect-led design teams for the design and construction of an 8 lane 25 meter pool, a combined learner/diving pool, indoor pools, with rapids and flumes, and outdoor leisure waters, a health and fitness center, café, creche and flexible space for other activities.

From the initial expressions of interest, up to six teams will be invited to the design phase of the competition and will be asked to produce concept design proposals. Each of the short-listed teams will receive an honorarium of £6,000 (plus VAT) for the production of 2 A1 boards with supporting written material.

A preliminary briefing paper and pre-qualification questionnaire are available from www.architecture.com/competitions|. The Expression of Interest deadline is 14.00 hours on Tuesday 17^th March 2009.