Architectural Design Narrative
Why a New City Aquatic Center?
The community of Alameda has a growing need for increased access to public swimming pools. Many facilities currently on the island are privately run and are limited in programming for public use.
Alameda High School currently offers a swim team and a water polo team that are suffering due to the conditions of the Emma Hood Swim Center. Through the partnership between the Alameda Independent School District and the City of Alameda, a centrally located aquatics facility that served the needs of the high school athletes and meets community needs became possible.
During the three community workshops ELS got to know the community of Alameda and their input influenced the design of the proposed aquatics facility, the new City Aquatics Center. ELS Architecture and Urban Design (ELS) worked with the community through design options ideal for swim lessons, lap swim, fun water, etc. Strong input from the sports teams helped guide the design for ideal conditions for water polo and competitive swim. By the end of Community Workshop 3 the community was thrilled with the design and is anticipating its grand opening.
The entrance to the facility is at the corner of Oak Street and the High School. Patrons are greeted at a registration/check-in desk as they make their way onto the pool deck. Through the doors they see either scheme A or B of a fun water pool. This pool is kept at a warmer temperature to benefit swim lessons and an array of programming. There is a zero-beach entry for little kids to ease their way into being independent and confident in the water. In a depth of 1ft the kids can play with interactive pool features on an in-water play structure. The beach entry and play structure zone continues down to a dept of 3ft contained with walls for the kid’s safety and as a barrier between the play zone and the adjoining four lap lanes. In Scheme A, at the 3ft depth, there is an opening to a long stairway and access to the 4ft depth lap lanes and the plunge tank of a winding slide. When the slide is not in operations the stairs and plunge tank can be an additional designated swim lessons area. In scheme B, the water slide and plunge tank are replaced with a spacious lazy river. A fun circle of moving water where kids can float in innertubes, or simply splash around in the current. Adults can use this current for relaxation, water walking or water therapy classes.
The fun water pool has designated locker rooms. Men’s and Women’s changing areas, plus two family changing rooms, provide space for families, swim lesson participants, and any others enjoying the fun water pool. Near the fun water pool is a 2100 sf multipurpose room. This space can be used for an array of purposes such as birthday party rentals, community meetings, workout space, craft room, etc. To make it versatile, the space can be divided into three smaller rooms all with exterior access and access into the aquatic center. On either end of the space are two additional restrooms, a small kitchen area ideal for hosting parties, and a storage closet. These spaces can be rented to many users groups and will add a source of revenue for the center.
Ideally, this fun water pool would be enclosed. The City of Alameda does not have an existing indoor pool available to the public year-round. This opens many doors in terms of programming provided and Click here & type Mr./Ms. Last Name
March 03, 2020
the popularity of swimming during the winter months. The pools would be blocked from the strong alameda winds and create a fun welcoming environment for the community to enjoy year-round.
The City Aquatics Center will serve as a competition pool for the High School and community teams. The 25yrd x 30m flat water pool had to support high school swimming training needs and competition, as well as meet the standard for CIF water polo tournaments. There is allocated space for spectator seating with ideal views of the pool for each sport. This large pool offers 12 lap lanes for high school training, public lap swimming, and other programming. There are two diving boards that will allow the High School to offer a diving program and the boards provide a fun feature for the community. This large pool offers 7,730 sf of programming space that can encompass all levels of competition, lap swimming, and any other deep-water programming such as Innertube water polo games, slack lines, aqua yoga, deep water running, etc.
The Alameda High School has a separate entrance that leads to an additional set of locker rooms designated for users of this larger pool. Community members would enter through the corner entrance and can use the locker rooms closest to the pool they plan to use. Two family changing areas are located at the front of the locker rooms.
In between the two pools is 4,505 sf of lawn space ideal for hanging out by the pool. It is great for families to have picnics, sunbathing, and for kids to play. This space also provides additional deck space when the aquatic center is hosting large meets and needs ample space behind the starting blocks for timers, shade tents, and lining up the athletes. There is allocated storage space for both pools, totaling 1,510 sf to store programming equipment, touch pads, timing system, etc.
The 42,900 sf facility will be a great addition to the City of Alameda providing the community with access to family fun, health and wellness, and support the competitive teams.