https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
Banking Technology
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Expert Insights
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
    • Co-op Solutions
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to AC&C
    • Manage AC&C Subscription
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


Modernizing a landmark pool

Modernizing a landmark pool

City restores historical facility while adding energy-efficient features.
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 1st December 2010

Richmond, Calif., recently restored its Municipal Natatorium, turning the 1920s-era facility into a modern, green recreational building. Known as The Plunge, the newly reopened indoor pool features operable windows for ventilation, and solar panels that provide electricity and heat the saline water.

When it was first built, the natatorium was a state-of-the-art, two-story building with an indoor warm water swimming pool, a fountain, observation balconies, and an open truss ceiling. More than twice the size of an Olympic pool, The Plunge’s pool was so large that scuba diving and kayaking were taught. However, through the years, the city struggled to meet the costs of staffing and maintenance. Most major improvements were deferred, and seismic retrofitting became financially unfeasible. The Plunge closed in 2001.

A local nonprofit group, Richmond Friends of Recreation, began campaigning for donations to restore the old facility. The group and the city combined redevelopment money, funds from a regional voter measure, grants and donations to pay for its $7.5 million restoration.

Berkeley, Calif.-based Todd Jersey Architecture developed and implemented the renovation plan. The project included restoring the original natatorium structure; renovating the 10,000-square-foot swimming pool; rebuilding the changing, bath and shower facilities; and restoring the neoclassical front of the building. The team also installed 30 kilowatts of solar panels for electricity, 300 operable windows, a hyper-efficient boiler and sophisticated pool pumps.

Berkeley, Calif.-based Sun Light & Power installed 3,500 square feet of solar hot water panels from locally based Heliodyne for the pool’s 324,000 gallons of saline water. The water is disinfected using an ultraviolet system instead of chlorine. Other sustainable features include new technology for water conservation, a repurposed historic mushroom fountain, and a victory garden on one side of the structure for growing food for the community.

Richmond celebrated The Plunge’s reopening in August, and the Richmond Recreation Department resumed classes for recreational swimming, lap swimming, and water fitness, as well as instruction in canoe and kayak handling.

Project: Municipal natatorium restoration
Jurisdiction: Richmond, Calif.
Agency: Recreation Department
Vendors: Berkeley, Calif.-based Sun Light & Power; Richmond, Calif.-based Heliodyne; Berkeley, Calif.-based Todd Jersey Architecture
Date completed: August 2010
Cost: $7.5 million

Tags: Public Works & Utilities

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

White Papers


What is Your Plan for Cybersecurity?

5th February 2019

5 Best Practices for Utilizing GIS Data

5th February 2019

City of Stamford Saves $1-Million Via Car Sharing

1st February 2019
view all

Events


Twitter


AmerCityCounty

A new #report ranks the 52 American #metropolitan areas with over 1 million residents based on their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

14th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

Today, we announced the six winners of American #City & #County's 2018 Crown Communities awards! Congratulations to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

12th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

The @CityOfNOLA #CityCouncil is calling for the @NFL to review its rules after the @Saints lost the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

29th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Is your #city among #UHaul's top 25 #GrowthCities for 2018? buff.ly/2S8hptr https://t.co/rI4x0Lcdql

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

The personal information for approximately 1,470 #Knoxville, Tenn. #government employees was inadvertently posted o… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

““Seconded” staffers, or temporary #procurement professionals at #DallasAreaRapidTransit handle varying heavy workl… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd January 2019
AmerCityCounty

As the longest #GovernmentShutdown in U.S. history continues with no sign of abating, city governments are stepping… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Florida Governor @RonDeSantisFL formally suspended #BrowardCounty, Fla. Sheriff Scott Israel on Jan. 11, following… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Expert Insights

Learn from experts in the public and private sectors about best practices and how to optimize your government’s operations.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

American City and County

© American City and County 2019. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service

Related Links

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

Follow us

Websites are now required by law to gain your consent before applying cookies. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Parts of the website may not work as expected without them. By closing or ignoring this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
X