Alameda City Aquatic Center

Alameda, CA | sports/recreation | community/education
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On the island of Alameda, most swimming pool facilities are either privately run or offer limited public use. To address the shortage, ELS is working with city and school-district officials on the design of a new, centrally located aquatic facility at Alameda High School.

Through public workshops, we drew input from local parents and student athletes on programming that will address all age ranges and user groups while helping the city generate revenue. The 42,900-sf aquatic center will be a major new destination for people from all over to gather as a community and enjoy swim lessons, lap swimming, and fun water. It will also support competitive swimming and water polo, suiting the needs of Alameda High School’s swim team and other community teams.

Given the windy site, it was essential to enclose the fun-water pool, which will be accessed via designated locker rooms and family changing areas. This pool, kept relatively warm, will offer multiple features for learners such as a zero-depth beach entry, which builds confidence for those newest to the water, and an in-water play structure; in slightly deeper water, a play zone will be separated from the adjacent four lap lanes. Nearby, two schemes under review offer either a water slide and plunge tank or a lazy river suitable for all ages. This area is next to rental spaces including a kitchen and a large space, subdividable into three rooms, that will be available for events like birthday parties and community meetings. Nearby, a 4,500-sf lawn space and play area will host picnics and more.

Swimmers from Alameda High School will have their own entrance to the 7,700-sf competition pool area, designed to support swimmers’ needs and to meet the California Interscholastic Federation’s standard for water polo tournaments. Spectator seating will offer ideal views of the pool, which provides twelve lap lanes for training, public lap swimming, and other programming. Two diving boards that will enable the high school to offer a diving program.

Project Stats
  • Client

    City of Alameda

  • Size

    42,900 sf

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