DMACC Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness Center

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Project Type

Location

Ankeny, Iowa

Year Completed

2017

Awarded

As part of a renovation project, Waters Edge worked with Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) representatives, and the building architect, to develop an aquatic facility for the new student recreation center. Programming for the facility was a strong element for consideration during the design process. The Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness Center includes 7,145 square feet of water surface area including both competition and leisure pools that focus on maximizing space and incorporating program elements. DMACC also integrated academic programs into the facility such as early-childhood management to sport and physical therapy management. The facility is used to enrich students college experiences, while also providing a wellness benefit to the greater City of Ankeny community.

With a strong swim team presence in the area, the competitive pool hosts eight 25-yard lap lanes as well as easy access stair entry and one meter diving. Bleachers are permanently fixed to the pool deck to allow for spectator seating during practice and swim meets. Nearby and separated from the competitive space with a glazed curtain wall is the leisure pool. This pool has a zero-depth entry ramp, versus a traditional full zero depth entry, to maximize deck space and provide deeper water for wellness aerobics and open swim. Complete with floatables, a basketball goal, a volleyball net, and two lap lanes; the leisure pool can be open for public use during swim meets/practice, and is used as a warm-up/cool-down area for competitive events. Aside from allowing flexibility of use, the glazed curtain wall also provides integrated solar energy savings measures, and the ability to manage the air and water temperature of both spaces more efficiently. In an effort to continue to make indoor pool designs sustainable, the heat from the building's HVAC is reclaimed and utilized to heat the pools. Supplemental to the reclaimed heat, high efficiency heaters help provide any additional support only as needed.

In addition to the main pool areas, a smaller therapy/wellness pool was provided with ADA access, an underwater treadmill, and swim current jets. Being a more intimate space, this pool is utilized for more specific physical therapy and wellness needs.


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