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In this article
- Project Overview
- Project Highlights
- Engineering Specifications
- Engineering Challenges
- Water Wonders Solution
- Construction Process
- Materials & Technologies
- Why Acrylic Was the Best Choice
- Project Outcome
- Why Choose Water Wonders
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Build Your Own Custom Acrylic Pool?
- Project Media
Some projects test a construction team’s technical ability. Others test its identity. The Adidas Liquid Billboard Dubai project did both, asking whether a billboard could be built that people could actually swim inside, in full public view, on Kite Beach.
Water Wonders Aquarium LLC structurally engineered and built the world-famous Adidas swimmable billboard as a fully engineered custom acrylic pool structure that worked at once as a swimming vessel, a load-bearing steel construction and a piece of advertising architecture, and became known internationally as the world’s first swimmable billboard.
Project Overview
The agencies Havas Creative and Jack Morton commissioned the billboard to launch Adidas’ inclusive, full-cover swimwear collection. The project took Water Wonders’ expertise in indoor museum tanks and scaled it up to a high-load, public-facing structural pool on a sandy beach, delivered as a single, coordinated turnkey build from concept to handover.
Project Highlights
- A fully functional swimmable structure widely recognised as the world’s first billboard of its kind
- A structure 5 metres high, 7 metres long and 3 metres deep, built on a sandy public beach
- About 52,500 litres (11,500 gallons) of water, weighing more than 52 metric tons
- A single 6,000 mm by 2,700 mm optical-grade structural acrylic panel forming the front face of the billboard
- Complete turnkey execution, with one contractor accountable for structure, waterproofing and glazing
- A compressed 45-day handover schedule, driven by the campaign launch
Engineering Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Adidas Liquid Billboard (swimmable billboard) |
| Client | Adidas — “Beyond the Surface” campaign |
| Commissioned By | Havas Creative and Jack Morton |
| Location | Kite Beach, Dubai, UAE |
| Structure Dimensions | 5 m high (approx. 16.4 ft) x 7 m long x 3 m deep |
| Water Volume | 11,500 gallons (approx. 52,500 litres, 52.5 m³) |
| Water Weight | More than 52 metric tons |
| Viewing Panel | One clear, optical-grade structural acrylic panel, 6,000 mm x 2,700 mm |
| Structural Body | Steel structure pool body |
| Waterproofing System | GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) laminate |
| Installation Type | Temporary structure, full turnkey build |
| Project Duration | 45 days, start to handover |
Figures are taken from Water Wonders’ project records. Press reports at the time compared the weight of the water to 3,319 Adidas shoe boxes or 163 residential bathtubs.
Engineering Challenges
Structural Load on a Beach Site
Sand conditions, tidal proximity and beach access all had to be factored into how the steel structure carried more than 52 tonnes of water plus its own weight.
Large-Format Acrylic Handling
Transporting, positioning and sealing a 6,000 mm by 2,700 mm panel without stress fractures or seal failure required precise handling and a controlled installation sequence.
Waterproofing a Composite Structure
Every junction between steel, GRP and acrylic expands and flexes differently under heat and load, requiring specific detailing at each interface.
Coastal Weather Exposure
Temperature swings, humidity and salt-laden air all affect the curing of waterproofing systems and the long-term performance of materials.
Compressed Construction Schedule
The 45-day deadline left no room for sequencing errors across fabrication, waterproofing, glazing and commissioning.
Public Safety
Safety engineering extended beyond structural integrity to access, supervision and controlled water quality throughout the operational period.
Water Wonders Solution
Water Wonders approached the Adidas Liquid Billboard as a single integrated engineering system rather than a series of separate trades. The steel structure, the GRP waterproofing membrane and the acrylic panel were designed together from the outset, so that structural tolerances, waterproofing junctions and glazing seats aligned without last-minute compensation on site. It was the same discipline we apply to indoor tanks, scaled up to a pool that had to stand in public on open sand.
To manage the beach conditions, the steel pool body was engineered as a self-contained structural shell, spreading the load of the water across a wider footprint rather than relying on the ground for structural support, so the installation could proceed without permanent foundation works.
The large acrylic panel was fabricated and handled as a standalone engineering component, with its seat in the steel frame designed for the hydrostatic loading of the water behind it. It was installed only once the steel shell and the waterproofing beneath it had been fully prepared and verified.
To meet the 45-day deadline, Water Wonders ran structural fabrication, waterproofing preparation and acrylic panel manufacturing as parallel workstreams that converged only at final assembly on site, removing the scheduling risk of coordinating multiple subcontractors on a fast-track build.
Construction Process
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Planning and Engineering
Structural and hydraulic engineering translated the required 5 m x 7 m x 3 m structure into a buildable steel frame and an acrylic glazing specification.
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Fabrication
The steel structure was fabricated to the engineered drawings while the 6,000 mm by 2,700 mm acrylic panel was manufactured in parallel.
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Steel Structure Assembly
The steel pool body was assembled and positioned on site at Kite Beach, forming the shell for waterproofing and glazing.
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Waterproofing
GRP waterproofing was applied across the steel shell, forming the continuous barrier that retains the water.
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Acrylic Panel Installation
The large clear acrylic panel was installed into its structural seat within the steel frame, forming the viewing side of the billboard.
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Testing and Commissioning
The completed structure was filled and tested to confirm structural performance, waterproofing integrity and acrylic stability under full hydrostatic load.
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Final Handover
The project was handed over within the 45-day window, ready for the “Beyond the Surface” campaign.
Materials & Technologies
Steel Structure
Selected for its strength-to-weight ratio and its ability to be engineered into a rigid, self-supporting shell on a temporary site.
GRP Waterproofing
Bonds effectively to steel substrates and forms a seamless, joint-free barrier, reducing potential leak points.
Cast Acrylic Panel
Chosen for optical clarity and proven performance under hydrostatic load as a structural viewing element.
Filtration & Water Systems
Water circulation and filtration were integrated to support water quality throughout the installation.
Finishing & Sealing
Specialist sealants were applied at every material interface to preserve waterproofing integrity in coastal conditions.
Why Acrylic Was the Best Choice
Project Outcome
The Adidas Liquid Billboard was delivered as a complete, functioning structure within the 45-day timeframe, meeting the structural, waterproofing and glazing requirements set at the outset. It earned recognition as the world’s first swimmable billboard, combining a genuine engineering build with a highly visible brand activation on Kite Beach to launch Adidas’ inclusive swimwear collection.
The project showed that a temporary structure can be engineered to the same standard of structural and waterproofing rigour expected of a permanent pool, while meeting an accelerated commercial deadline, with Water Wonders managing the build from concept to handover.
Why Choose Water Wonders
Water Wonders is a specialist in custom acrylic pools and aquatic structure engineering across Dubai and the wider UAE. The Adidas Liquid Billboard is representative of the projects the company is built to deliver: technically demanding, time-critical and requiring structural, waterproofing and glazing disciplines under one accountable team.
Clients benefit from an in-house approach spanning structural engineering, steel fabrication, GRP waterproofing and large-format acrylic installation, which removes the coordination risk of managing several specialist contractors, particularly where deadlines are fixed by campaign launches or events. See more landmark builds in our portfolio, including our Expo 2020 Dubai aquariums, and learn how our commercial water features are delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Adidas Liquid Billboard in Dubai?
A temporary, fully functional swimmable structure built on Kite Beach in Dubai for Adidas’ “Beyond the Surface” campaign, combining a steel and acrylic pool with the look of a billboard. Water Wonders Aquarium LLC structurally engineered and built it.
Why is it called the world’s first swimmable billboard?
Unlike a conventional billboard, the structure held roughly 52,500 litres of water and could be swum in while still working as a public advertising installation. It became known internationally as the world’s first swimmable billboard.
Who commissioned the Adidas Liquid Billboard?
The agencies Havas Creative and Jack Morton commissioned the build to launch Adidas’ inclusive, full-cover swimwear collection.
Where was the Adidas swimming pool billboard located?
On Kite Beach in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
How big was the structure?
The reinforced structure stood 5 metres high (about 16.4 feet), was 7 metres long and 3 metres deep.
How much water did it hold and how much did it weigh?
It held 11,500 gallons (approximately 52,500 litres) of water, which weighed more than 52 metric tons. Press reports compared that to 3,319 Adidas shoe boxes or 163 residential bathtubs.
How large was the acrylic panel?
The front face of the billboard was a single piece of clear, optical-grade structural acrylic measuring 6,000 mm by 2,700 mm. It had to resist the pressure of the water while staying completely clear for beachgoers looking in.
What is a structural acrylic pool?
A pool in which thick acrylic panels do the structural work of holding back the water while also acting as a viewing window. This project used one very large panel as the front of a steel pool body; the same principle is used for permanent clear acrylic pool panels in villas and hotels.
What materials were used to build the structure?
A steel structure for the pool body, a GRP (glass reinforced plastic) laminate system for waterproofing, and one large cast acrylic panel for the viewing face.
How long did the project take?
The project was delivered within 45 days, in line with the client’s timeline, and was completed in June 2021.
Did Water Wonders manage the entire project?
Yes. Water Wonders handled the project from structural design and fabrication through waterproofing, acrylic installation and final handover.
Why was acrylic chosen instead of glass?
Acrylic offers greater optical clarity, better impact resistance and lower weight than glass at comparable thickness, which suits a large, publicly accessible water structure. Our guide to acrylic panels vs glass for pools explains the trade-offs.
Is this type of structure only suitable for temporary installations?
No. The same structural, waterproofing and acrylic engineering principles apply to permanent pools for residential, hospitality and commercial projects. See modern pool costs in Dubai and plunge pool costs.
Can Water Wonders build similar projects for other brands or developments?
Yes. Water Wonders designs and delivers custom acrylic pools and aquatic structures for commercial, residential and hospitality clients across Dubai and the UAE, from private pools to large brand activations. Start with a quotation request.
Ready to Build Your Own Custom Acrylic Pool?
From concept to handover, Water Wonders delivers custom acrylic pools and aquatic structures across Dubai and the UAE, engineered to the same standard used to build the world’s first swimmable billboard.
Project Media
The Finished Billboard
Construction and Installation
