A swimming pool wall, and method for forming same, including a plurality of layers of reinforced composite material. Each layer includes a thermoplastic resin and a plurality of elongate glass strands of reinforcing material. A first set of the plurality of layers has the strands miming in a first direction, and a second set of the plurality of layers has the strands miming in a second direction. The first direction is offset in angle from the second direction, and the first and second set of layers are fused together to form a unitary composite wall. The principles of hoop strength applicable to the swimming pool wall also apply to other cylindrical structures needing hoop strength arising from pressures inside or outside the cylindrical structure. The wall structure may be a plurality of interconnected panels both arcuate and arcuate and planar in shape to determine the overall shape of the composite wall enclosing an area where water or ice is retained.