Manchester Aquatics Centre
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The Manchester Aquatics Centre, abbreviated MAC, is a public aquatics sports facility south of the city centre of Manchester, England, north of the main buildings of the University of Manchester near Manchester Metropolitan University. It was purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games,<ref name="city_council" /> and cost £32 million to build.<ref name="bbc_commonwealth">Template:Cite news</ref>
Before it was built, for many years its site was open waste ground, left by demolishing inner city industrial terrace houses. The building was designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects. The building takes the approximate shape of an asymmetric trapezoidal prism (the apex provides clearance above the highest diving board), and from the outside, the roof resembles a wave.
Construction started in August 1996, and was completed in July 2000,<ref name="arup" /> with finishing touches made in September 2001. MAC hosts many swimming and water polo events but also hosts Lancashire County Championships and Age group North west Regionals for swimming.<ref name="sportbusiness_2001">Template:Cite news</ref> It was opened on 12 October 2000, by Queen Elizabeth II.<ref name="times_2000">Template:Cite news</ref> The pool was closed in 2021 for major refurbishment works over the following two years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Facilities
The centre's facilities include:
- Two Template:Cvt swimming pools,<ref name="city_council">Template:Cite web</ref> each able to be split into sections of varying dimensions and depths with the help of moveable floors and booms. In fact, the centre has the world's largest area of movable floors and booms in a swimming facility.<ref name="arup">Template:Cite web</ref>
- The "main pool" on the ground floor is Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt with a maximum depth of Template:Cvt. A sinkable boom can separate the pool into a Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt with constant depth between floor level and Template:Cvt depth; and a Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt section at Template:Cvt depth, which in turn can be separated by another sinkable boom to allow a section of Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt. The floors of these three sections can each be independently raised or lowered between very shallow and Template:Cvt depth. 1,000 permanent spectator seats overlook the main pool hall.
- The "training pool" is located in the basement and is Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt in size, with a constant depth of Template:Cvt. A traversable boom allows separation into two Template:Cvt length pools, one of which can be varied in depth from floor level to Template:Cvt. The training pool's ceiling is in the shape of two long waves representing waves on water.
- A Template:Cvt diving pool (ground level) with movable floor to allow a maximum depth of Template:Cvt. The pool is often also used for water polo,<ref name="paralympic">Template:Cite web</ref> and scuba diving training.
- A "leisure pool" (ground floor) – a shallow water area suitable for younger pool users, with two water flumes and two bubble pools.
- Workout and fitness studios (behind the spectator seating), a health suite including sauna and steam room.<ref name="manchester_university">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Poolside café.
Use
It is jointly owned by Manchester City Council, the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.<ref name="sportbusiness_2001" /> All the facilities can be used by members of the public.
The centre is the home of the City of Manchester Aquatics Swim Team,<ref name="aquatics_swim_team">Template:Cite web</ref> as well as Disability Swimming and Water Polo athletes within the English Institute of Sport.<ref name="institute_of_sport">Template:Cite web</ref>
As well as the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the MAC has been used for:
- Paralympic World Cup since 2005
- Training for 9th FINA World Short Course Championships 2008
- Duel in the Pool 2009
- LEN European Waterpolo
- Training for teams for the 2012 Olympic Games
- SwimBritain 2013