IN three weeks' time, the doors will open at the £35 million Hengrove Park Leisure Centre.

It will include an Olympic standard, 50m swimming pool, a gym, a dance studio, climbing wall, creche and cafe.

Along with the nearly completed new hospital next door and the Bristol College building nearby, it makes Hengrove Park an impressive destination for people in south Bristol.

But visitors to the leisure centre could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu when they see the new building for the first time.

Although it does not cover the entire exterior, sections of the outside look remarkably similar to the gold panelled Colston Hall Foyer, opened to great acclaim three years ago.

The same panelling is also used on the rather unusual outdoor kitchen for the centre's health food cafe. Called the "golden egg" it extends to the right of the building in the plaza between the leisure centre and the South Bristol Hospital.

The team behind the building say it's just a coincidence, and the hall and the leisure centre did not use the same architect.

The same plaza area includes several pieces of public art, which look like large pebbles split into sections.

These "drumlines" are based on geographical features that can be seen in Glasgow.

While they certainly make the building look more eye catching, it's what's inside that will draw the crowds when it opens to the public at 5.30am on Wednesday February 29.

Around 160 workmen are on site making sure the centre – funded by a private finance initiative – is finished on budget and on time.

When they've left around 110 staff will be on site to run the centre, although this is expected to double when the seven-day-a-week centre is at full capacity.

One of them is 24-year-old Kurtis Walters of Wells Road, who will start work as a gym instructor at the end of the month after completing a training course.

He said: "I was a builder for eight years and wanted to do something else.

"I've got a family now and this is in the local area so it's easier to get to work. There's nothing like this in the South West. I'll be introducing people into gym but also doing GP referrals because we've got the hospital next door."

Mr Walters used to work at Bishopsworth Pool, which is set to close the day before Hengrove Park opens.

He is one of ten Parkwood Leisure staff who have benefited from new training and employment opportunities at the centre.

Parkwood Leisure is managing the centre with the city council.