The project will deliver a new water slide – shaped like a spaceship – to woo visitors. The Kidz Tantrum ride is said to be the first of its kind in the country, and will allow swimmers to plunge into a pool from three-storeys up. It replace existing flumes at the centre.
A new state-of-the-art health suite is also being created. It will feature a stone-bedded relaxation area, spa pools, steam rooms and saunas. There will also be a new aromatherapy room, an ‘igloo’ ice cooler and ‘monsoon’ showers.
The centre will remain open throughout the 35-week construction phase, although some parts of the complex will be closed to allow building work to proceed.
Phil McEwan, the managing director of Ogilvie Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be working on this landmark project to revitalise one of Scotland’s best known leisure centres.
“The Time Capsule first opened in 1991. People from all over Scotland come to the centre – and I’m told there are even buses from Ireland arriving to use the facilities. The improvement programme will breathe new life into the centre and hopefully attract even more people to use the improved facilities.”
Mr McEwan added: “The centre will remain open throughout the construction phase. We’ll try to keep inconvenience to regular users to an absolute minimum. But we hope people will be patient as we work with North Lanarkshire Council and the trust running the Time Capsule to deliver improvements to the centre. It should be fantastic when everything is finished – and a great boost to the local community.”
Councillor Jim Logue, the chairman of North Lanarkshire Leisure, said: “Our new Kidz Tantrum ride will put the Time Capsule on the map for thrill seekers! It will be a fantastic centrepiece for the Waterworld pools and guarantee a fun day out. And the health suite will offer our customers some of the best facilities in the area.”
The leisure pool has been closed as improvements are carried out. However, the 25 metre pool in the swim zone, the centre’s gym, dry sports area and café will all be open as normal during the refurbishment.
For more information, please visit www.thetimecapsule.info
As well as Ogilvie, the Time Capsule refurbishment team includes: Thomas and Adamson as project managers, CDM Project Safety, Harley Haddow as consulting engineers, and Nifes Consulting Group, as mechanical and electrical consultants (all based in Glasgow).
Architects for the project are Motherwell-based Dalziel Design and East-Kilbride based Carr McLean Watson as quantity surveyors.
The building contract is worth £3.3 million – but the overall project is expected to cost around £6 million.