It was purpose built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games,[1] and cost £32 million to build.

[2] Before it was built, for many years its site was open waste ground, left by demolishing inner city industrial terrace houses.

The building takes the approximate shape of an asymmetric trapezoidal prism (the apex provides clearance above the highest diving board), and from the outside, the roof resembles a wave.

Construction started in August 1996, and was completed in July 2000,[3] with finishing touches made in September 2001.

[10] As well as the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the MAC has been used for: Italics denote building under construction