Photo Credit: Shields Marley Photography
At their best, they create one of the most exciting atmospheres in sports; at their worst, they leave your eyes bloodshot, throat sore and clothes reeking of chemicals. Unfortunately, when most people think of natatoriums, they all too often remember the poorly designed facilities, and don’t recall those that were well-designed.
The environment inside a natatorium is similar to that of an equatorial jungle with chemical fumes instead of giant insects. In this setting, improper training of operations and maintenance staff can lead to a situation where it is obvious that a pool is somewhere within the building--you can smell it before you actually see it. However, this “smelly swimming-pool syndrome” cannot always be attributed to poor maintenance--many common problems stem from improper design.
There are three major issues that should be taken into consideration during the design phase in order to create a natatorium space that is easy to operate, flexible for a variety of programs, highly sustainable and comfortable for swimmers as well as spectators. These include: