Yet, despite the many benefits of its location, there is a shortage of public swimming pools. All pool facilities are either privately run or offer limited, seasonal public use, which poses challenges to those learning to swim or trying to keep a consistent practice.  

This project, as the city’s first year-round, city-operated aquatic center, is the culmination of a years-long collaboration between ELS and city officials that began with an exhaustive review of various potential project sites. The city’s process ultimately landed on a prominent corner location at a beloved and centrally located linear park. Public workshops helped us integrate extensive input for a project that blends into its newly verdant setting and recalls the linear park’s former use as a railyard. Programming addresses the needs of all ages and local user groups while generating municipal revenue. Inserted carefully into its transit-oriented site, this will be a major regional destination for swim lessons, lap swimming, and fun water while addressing the needs of local swim and water polo teams. We oriented the project’s footprint and creatively deployed built and planted windscreens, reconciling prevailing winds with the need for comfort at the two outdoor pools.

Our all-electric design was supported by the local utility’s partial subsidy of the costly major components (including heat pumps and solar panels). The site will act as a demonstration project, visualizing the many benefits of emissions-free operations through STEAM-oriented exhibits that bring the facility’s systems to life.