The new $135 million Adelaide Aquatic Centre continues to take shape, following the arrival of massive timber beams and columns - some of the biggest ever seen in SA.

The centre, which will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, will feature indoor and outdoor pool areas, water slides, splash zones and lawned recreational spaces.

The 52 timber beams and columns, which are up to 37m long and being installed in the various pool halls, are so large that they had to be specially milled in Austria, as the Australian timber industry doesn't currently have the manufacturing capacity for beams of this size.

One of the beams is the largest wooden beam in the country, weighing 10,282kg.

The beams and columns were first transported to Belgium, then shipped 26,000km by boat to Melbourne, before being driven by trucks to Adelaide under police escort.

They are now being installed, along with more than 200 roofing panels, while work is continuing on the pools themselves.

The 50m learn to swim and warm water rehabilitation indoor pools were all filled late last year to test their water retaining capacity, while construction of the remaining pools, including the indoor splash zone, outdoor lagoon and 25m pool are also underway.

The new centre will also contain a gym and fitness centre, plus a relaxation zone and improved change rooms.

This project, which will return 1000sq m of land to the Park Lands, is supporting more than 1500 jobs during construction.

The new centre, in Pardipardinyilla/Denise Norton Park, will open to the public next summer.