Photo Credit: © Gregg Shupe 2013 | ShupeStudios.com
As awareness of the operational costs of pools has deepened, helped along by years of rising utility costs, an increasing number of municipalities, YMCAs, and swim clubs have joined forces to build aquatic centers that can accommodate both competitive events and recreational activities. Fortunately, the understanding of natatorium-design efficiencies has also deepened. Satisfying all stakeholders in such an arrangement is a matter of solid design principles and sensitive scheduling and management, with both architects and administrators keeping the specific needs of swim-team members, spectators, recreational swimmers, and staff members in mind.
Operationally, dual-use natatoriums can be somewhat complicated. Ideally, the two separate pool spaces can be operated independently, with staff members able to keep participants in one program area from moving into the other. It all starts with an organized and efficient building plan.
Although there is no template for natatoriums, these specialized facilities have a defined flow and a number of important adjacencies that are necessary to make them work. For example, entry to wet spaces is always through wet locker/shower rooms, and the presence of separate competitive and recreational spaces normally means designing a secondary “wet hallway” through which male and female swimmers move from respective locker rooms to respective pools. And adding a spectator area to the competitive side, suddenly there are two circulation zones that, ideally, shouldn’t cross.