We’re revitalising and reconfiguring the Seymour Leisure Centre for a new era, restoring its 1930s art deco features while bringing the building up to modern accessibility and sustainability standards

London’s Seymour Centre has been a community hub in Marylebone for almost 90 years. Designed by Kenneth Cross in 1937 as purpose-built public baths, the Grade II-listed building has evolved over time, most recently operating as a leisure centre with a sports hall in its former ‘first-class’ swimming pool hall. Make Architects’ refurbishment is revitalising the centre for a new era by restoring its art deco features, diversifying its uses, and bringing the building up to modern accessibility and sustainability standards.

Make has worked closely with Westminster City Council and local community stakeholders to tailor the new centre to the needs of both existing and potential user groups, ensuring all areas across the building are as flexible as possible.

The building’s centrepiece is the former swimming pool hall, defined by its triple-height, barrel-vaulted tiered roof and abundant glazing, which flood the space with natural light. The restoration is designed to improve the hall’s thermal performance and functionality, and introduces step-free access with a new sprung floor that extends to the perimeter. The refurbishment also includes the transformation of the now-redundant pool tank void into a new gym.

Make’s fabric-first scheme retains as much of the original building as possible, preserving the grandeur of Cross’s Renaissance Palazzo-style design while reinstating heritage features such as the clear glazing in the ground floor windows to showcase the library behind, bringing in natural light and activating the facade. The new centre will be a site for weddings, workshops, tournaments, exhibitions, parties and more – an asset for the community to enjoy well into the future.

“Our designs focus on three key aims: to maximise the uses and purpose on offer within the leisure centre so it becomes a true community asset; to refurbish and restore this beautiful art deco building; and to make it accessible and inclusive for the community it serves.” – Amanda Sexton, Project Architect, Make Architects