Dollan Aqua Centre - Mono Monday #7 - Architecture

Dollan Aqua Centre (previously known as Dollan Baths) is a 20th-century category A listed building in East Kilbride, Scotland.

Designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell, it was opened in 1968 as Scotland's first 50 metre (although not Olympic standard) swimming pool. It consists principally of pre-stressed concrete and imitates a colossal marquee - the vaulted 324 ft parabolic arched roof appears to be held down by pairs of 'V' shaped-struts that meet the ground at a 30° angle.

Buchanan Campbell admitted that he had been influenced by the architecture of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and the designs by Kenzo Tange for the gymnasium there.

In 1993, the international conservation organisation DOCOMOMO listed Dollan Baths as one of sixty key monuments in Scottish post-war architecture. It was listed in 2002 (as Dollan Aqua Centre) as a Category A building by Historic Scotland.

Facilities include swimming pool with moveable floor, health suite and two fitness gyms, creche and cafe.

The Centre hosted the swimming events for the 2011 International Children's Games.


East Kilbride is a New Town, and apart from the old village the architecture is modern. The Dollar Aqua Centre sits on a hill above the Town Centre and is a striking feature of our urban landscape.