Leeds International Pool

Opened in 1967 and seemingly doomed to failure from its inception. Buildings designed by the office of John Poulson cannot escape the mention of his corruption and subsequent imprisonment. This scheme, despite winning a Civic Trust Award in 1969 for its striking presence, was beset by technical issues within three years of opening. Both the roof and the pool were leaking. The roof was apparently missing a vapour barrier and Leeds City Council claimed against Poulson to the tune of £278,000 [1]. E.W. Stanley, Leeds City Architect was a consultant on the scheme, but not responsible for the detailing, the failures of which Poulson tried to push onto the contractor. Housing three pools for practice, competition pool and diving, 'Autofab' beams formed cruciform columns that carried a lattice steel roof to create the large spans of the pool hall. The building was demolished in 2009.

[1] Architects' Journal, 15 February 1978, p.283.