Featuring an eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, the centre will also house a sauna and steam room, two squash courts, a café and a 200-station fitness suite with Technogym equipment. In addition, three new class studios - including a designated spin studio - will be created.

"We're aiming to create a club-style ambience, offering members excellent service, and the type of facilities they'd expect from a private health club such as under-floor heating in the changing rooms," says Stewart Ross, Director of Sport. "The design is modern and vibrant, with lots of natural light, and there's plenty of space in both training areas and changing areas.

"We've also ensured that the space is flexible so that it can be adapted for different needs; for example, the pool can be screened off for privacy and the depth can be adjusted to cater for a variety of sports and individual needs.

"This complex is the latest in a series of improvements the University has made to its sports facilities in recent years, including upgrading the existing sports centre, the ongoing refurbishment of Weetwood playing fields and the opening of the Gryphon sports centre on campus."

Details of pricing and membership will be available early in 2010, and a series of special tours is planned for March. Following a grand opening in May, the centre will be fully open to an expected 12,000 users.

Join the mailing list at www.leeds.ac.uk/sportsrevolution for a chance to be one of the first to see the new building!