Image: UCD's new 50m swimming pool is now open

A 10-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool is among the facilities at a new EUR50m (£40m) leisure complex at University College Dublin (UCD) - one of Ireland's largest universities.

The 11,000sq m (118,403sq ft) UCD Student Centre has been funded by past and present students, with Dublin-based architects Fitzgerald Kavanagh and Partners behind the design. PJ Walls was the main contractor.

Located at the heart of the new complex, the 50m swimming pool acts as a "natural thermal store" and heat generated circulates naturally to warm the gym, offices and medical suite.

The gym contains more than 150 pieces of cardiovascular and resistance equipment, as well as a large free weights area. The equipment has been supplied by Art of Fitness with Life Fitness.

Dance and group cycling studios also form part of the the UCD Sport and Fitness element of the complex, in addition to a children's pool, a whirlpool, a sauna and a steamroom.

The UCD Student Centre also includes offices and production facilities for campus media outlets; a multimedia theatre with 3D projection; and meeting rooms.

A spokesperson said: "Sustainability, both in the social and environmental sense, was a central consideration in all aspects of the spatial and technical design.

"The Student Centre incorporates very high performance building elements and passive design strategies to minimise the building's dependence of external heat sources."

Details: www.ucd.ie

Image: Johnny Bambury/Photographer