I'm currently in the process of putting together a committee to start planning for a new aquatic facility in our area. I'm asking all of you to help me make a list of the things that should go into a facility if you had unlimited resources and space. I want to start my project with the biggest dream possible and then have it brought back to earth by money limitations, etc.
What I'm looking for are comments about our own facilities features that work well, that you would never do again, that you would change, that you would do differently, and what you wish you could have. I want to hear from experience.... What makes your facility work so well or why you pool is the arm pit of pools. Here is an example:
I've learned from one pool that they should have built a permanent wall between their lap pool and their zero depth entry rec. pool. The building is so noisy they can barely run a meet if people are in the recreation pool. Don't leave anything untouched (pool size, deck space, configuration, locker rooms, office space, outdoor facilities, observation seating, etc.)
Our initial plan is to build a 50 meter indoor, with adjacent recreation pool, and an outdoor splash area for the hot summers. We are one mile above sea level and our winters go from October to May. I'm hoping all you can help with the things you have all learned from the many years we have been swimming.
My frame of reference is the great facility I am fortunate enough to swim at regularly at the University of Maryland, College Park (see www.terrapinmasters.org/crc.jpg for a nice picture of the competition pool).
Pool-wise, we have 2 indoor pools: a 52 meter by 25 yard competition pool (2 moveable bulkheads, 8 to 15 feet deep, 1 & 3 meter springboards at the deep end) and a 25 meter by 25 yard rec pool (~4 feet deep). Outdoor is a 25m x 25 y L shaped pool, and separate Mushroom pool - which is awesome, by the way.
back inside...
Deck space is plentiful. One thing about this is that the deck is wide enough that should any meet ever run the 25 yard width of the pool, folks camped out on the sides of the pool can get far enough away from all the splashing. There are a pair of wet/dry classrooms on deck for hospitality, officials during meets; and lifeguard class, swim classroom instruction, etc. during the week.
Natural Lighting... The link above shows the HUGE windows. They face northward, so not much direct sunlight, but there is plenty of daylight coming in. Even though we're indoors, at least we get to see what is going on outside (they also provide a good view of the bad weather, aka the Sept. 2001 Tornado that ran through the forest behind the pool).
Air/Temps. The locker rooms can get a bit nipply at times, but the pool deck is never humid. Always bearable in short or long sleeve t's. Comp pool temp is good for swimmers, the rec pool is good for the folks who like to swim in shower water temps. And aside from deck cleanings, I never smell any chemicals in there.
In general, have in mind what kind of programs and events you are looking too have at your facility. UMD does not have diving platforms and a tower, and its probably one of the main reasons why Baltimore/DC couldn't get serious with the 2012 Olympic Bid. If you're going to have a lot of learn to swim, scuba, aerobics, etc classes, make sure there is plenty of storage space for their equipment, along with all the lane ropes, touch pads, blocks, etc. that you use for competitive swimming.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!:banana:
My frame of reference is the great facility I am fortunate enough to swim at regularly at the University of Maryland, College Park (see www.terrapinmasters.org/crc.jpg for a nice picture of the competition pool).
Pool-wise, we have 2 indoor pools: a 52 meter by 25 yard competition pool (2 moveable bulkheads, 8 to 15 feet deep, 1 & 3 meter springboards at the deep end) and a 25 meter by 25 yard rec pool (~4 feet deep). Outdoor is a 25m x 25 y L shaped pool, and separate Mushroom pool - which is awesome, by the way.
back inside...
Deck space is plentiful. One thing about this is that the deck is wide enough that should any meet ever run the 25 yard width of the pool, folks camped out on the sides of the pool can get far enough away from all the splashing. There are a pair of wet/dry classrooms on deck for hospitality, officials during meets; and lifeguard class, swim classroom instruction, etc. during the week.
Natural Lighting... The link above shows the HUGE windows. They face northward, so not much direct sunlight, but there is plenty of daylight coming in. Even though we're indoors, at least we get to see what is going on outside (they also provide a good view of the bad weather, aka the Sept. 2001 Tornado that ran through the forest behind the pool).
Air/Temps. The locker rooms can get a bit nipply at times, but the pool deck is never humid. Always bearable in short or long sleeve t's. Comp pool temp is good for swimmers, the rec pool is good for the folks who like to swim in shower water temps. And aside from deck cleanings, I never smell any chemicals in there.
In general, have in mind what kind of programs and events you are looking too have at your facility. UMD does not have diving platforms and a tower, and its probably one of the main reasons why Baltimore/DC couldn't get serious with the 2012 Olympic Bid. If you're going to have a lot of learn to swim, scuba, aerobics, etc classes, make sure there is plenty of storage space for their equipment, along with all the lane ropes, touch pads, blocks, etc. that you use for competitive swimming.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!:banana:
