General Questions
How much does a preliminary study cost?
What does it cost to build a pool?
How long does it take to develop a project?
What type of construction materials should we use in the pool?
At what temperature should our pool be operated?
What can we do to improve the air quality of our natatorium?
What does it cost to build a natatorium?

General Questions

How much does a preliminary study cost?
A study is usually the first step to promote the construction of a pool in a community. It consists of the goals and needs of the project, a building program (the spaces in square feet that will be included), a floor plan of the building and an architect’s professional opinion of what the construction cost will be. For smaller projects, the basic cost is $8,500 plus any travel expenses required. For larger projects, the cost is usually no more than $12,000. Other work products can be added to the basic study, such as the following items:

• Site plan, if the site is known
• Site selection services, if evaluation of several sites is needed
• Elevations or exterior drawing of the building
• Rendering or architectural perspective of the exterior form or interior spaces.
• Economic feasibility analysis or operating cost and revenue projections.
• Random survey of citizens

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What does it cost to build a pool?
These are typical costs for a concrete pool. They may be lower or higher in your area. Keep in mind that a Myrtha pool will probably cost 10 to 25% more for a small pool or -5% to +5% more for a large pool. The Astral pool will probably cost 10% less for a small pool and 20% less for a large pool.

Description	Shallow Training or Deep Competition	Cost
6 Lane x 25 Yd.	Shallow	$340,000
6 Lane x 25 Yd.	Shallow to Deep	$465,000
8 Lane x 25 Yd.	Shallow to Deep	$625,000
25M x 25 Yd.	Shallow	$675,000
25M x 25 Yd.	Shallow to Deep	$860,000
Stretch 25 x 25 Yd. (120’ long)	Shallow to Deep	$1,150,000
50M x 25 Yd.	Shallow to Deep	$1,500,000
50M x 25 Yd.- 1 bulkhead	Deep	$1,730,000
50M x 25 Yd.- 2 bulkheads	Deep	$1,860,000
Diving Pool – minimum	Deep	$450,000
Diving Pool – maximum	Deep, No Platform diving	$1,500,000
Platform Diving	Add to pool cost	$ 350,000
Sprayground	700 to 1000 SF - Minimum	$200,000
Sprayground	700 to 1000 SF – Average	$375,000
Lazy River	Small – 500 LF	$800,000
Lazy River	Large – 1000 LF	$1,500,000
Leisure Pool, Slides, Features	Outdoor – 8,000 SF Pool (no deck/bldg./parking/fence)	$1,520,000
Leisure Pool, Slides, Features	Outdoor – 12,000 SF Pool (no deck/bldg./parking/fence)	$2,100,000
Therapy Pool	Small	$ 120,000
Therapy Pool	Medium	$ 200,000
Therapy Pool	Large	$ 300,000
Movable Floor	Add to pool cost for Small, 15’ x 30’	$ 100,000
Movable Floor	Add to pool cost for Large, 45’ x 75’	$ 380,000

There are many other sizes of pools that make sense for a project. Two and three pool projects are common to provide the temperature needed for different activities. We can program the facility to provide the sizes and types needed for your community. This is a rough cost only without the cost of concrete decks, changing facility, fencing, parking, soft costs of development and all the other things that go into developing a project. Do your planning before you budget the project.
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How long does it take to develop a project?
Often it takes a long, long time with a lot of hard work and perseverance. But when there is consensus in the community to build a pool, the timeline should look like this:

• Study Phase – 4 to 10 weeks
• Approval of funding and decision to proceed – 2 to 12 weeks
• Construction Documents or project detailed design – 12 to 26 weeks
• Bid or Negotiation Phase and Award of Construction Contract – 4 to 6 weeks
• Construction – Outdoor Pool 12 to 36 weeks, Indoor Pool 26 to 60 weeks

For an indoor pool, an average project takes 1 year and 9 months to 2 years.
For an outdoor pool, an average project takes 1 year in warmer climates, 1 1/3 year in colder.
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What type of construction materials should we use in the pool?
We believe you should select proven construction materials in which you have confidence. We design pools of all types. Research projects in your area or around the country to see what other teams and communities have built and their level of satisfaction. There are a lot of ways to build pools, but here is a brief summary of good pools to consider:

Myrtha:
A premium pool constructed of a concrete floor, stainless steel wall panels with PVC coating and a PVC membrane on the floor. These pools often cost $100 to 140 per square foot and up, depending on geographical location. This is a long lasting technology that has been used in Europe for over 30 years. The pools are installed quickly and can be erected during inclement weather after the concrete foundation has been installed. Myrtha pools have been used for international competition for many years. They are a sponsor of USA Swimming. On 50 meter pool projects, Myrtha pools can be very competitive, often bidding below $100/SF.

Paddock:
This is a concrete pool with a premium stainless steel gutter built by a highly competent dealer network. Pool costs often run $130 to $140 per square foot fully fitted out with all the equipment needed to open, but not including timing equipment. Paddock has pioneered many pool technologies, including the perimeter recirculating gutter to eliminate future maintenance on the piping inlet system, which is no longer under the pool. This is a lower maintenance approach and in some areas with poor soils, it is a real plus.

Astral:
This manufacturer builds galvanized steel panel pools on a concrete foundation with a full PVC membrane liner. The costs average $110 per square foot. While we have seen lower costs than this for 50 meter pools and much higher costs for small pools, the fact is that this is a good quality, budget priced pool. While there are over forty Skypools around the world, including some used for international competition, such as the recent FINA World Championships in Melbourne where nearly a new record for world records was set, the first two pools in the USA were built in 2006 in New York City and Colorado Springs. These pools were built outdoors in the summer in 4 to 8 weeks, giving new meaning to “fast” pools. Astral sponsors USA Swimming events, such as the annual Build a Pool Conference.

Precast Concrete:
A new type of construction for pools with a long history of low cost construction for other types of projects is precast concrete. Imagine your 50 meter pool arriving on trucks, set in place in 20 ft. lengths in a few days and filled with water in a few weeks instead of a few months. This technology will dive into pool construction in 2007, making a big wave.

Concrete Pools with Tile Gutters:
This method of gutter construction remains tried and true. While this is the traditional means of construction in the United States, the methods above have been increasingly used to deliver quality pools.

Whatever your preference for pools, Aquatic Excellence has experience in designing. We think you should get the pool you want, not the pool your consultant is promoting. Our independence is a plus for you. We can discuss the advantages and disadvantages with you to help you make this decision about your pool. Every other decision about the pool should be open for discussion also. We put you in the driver’s seat, but help you navigate through the many decisions that will need to be made.
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At what temperature should our pool be operated?
A.The temperature varies according to the use of the pool. Here are rough guidelines that indicate why the old approach of one pool fits all does not work today:

Competition Pool: The regulations call for pools to be 77 to 80 degrees for meets. On a daily basis, this is too cold for practice. The National Team in Colorado Springs practices at 81º, considered by medical researchers to be ideal for elite athlete training. At 80º the athletes’ heart rate elevated slightly to keep them warmer due to chilling. At 82º the athletes’ heart rate elevated slightly to keep them cooler due to over heating. Both 80º and 82º were only slightly worse than 81º. These were temperatures derived from scientific study. Our observation is that coaches often keep pools too cool for practice based on the requirements for meets.

Instruction and Recreation: For younger swimmers, warmer temperatures in teaching pools or leisure pools are beneficial. These pools are usually operated at 86º to 88º. Seniors also find these temperatures good for exercise classes.

Therapy: Therapy pools are usually operated at 92º. For arthritis classes some therapists may want 94º. Different conditions may require different temperatures.

Whirlpools: Whirlpools are usually operated at 102º to 104º.
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What can we do to improve the air quality of our natatorium?
While there are many things that can be done to improve water quality, improve the mechanical systems of the HVAC equipment and adjust other items in a comprehensive review of a bad air quality situation, the quick fix is to install a medium pressure UV (ultraviolet light) supplemental water treatment system. Good quality units are available from PurAqua through the Paddock dealer system (an import of the Hanovia system) or ETS (an import of the ati willand system) or Astral. These products have shown the ability to virtually eliminate chloramines from a pool overnight. They will build up slightly during the use of the day, but be diminished overnight. The best situation is a 100% flow through the UV unit. Costs usually run $35,000 to $50,000 installed in existing systems, but costs can be higher for large pools. Used only rarely on outdoor pools, the systems can provide supplemental eradication of harmful organisms, but the main benefit is the reduction of chloramines for indoor pools.

We believe that a medium pressure UV system should be installed on every indoor pool project in the U.S. to provide better air and water quality for our bathers and athletes. This water treatment will also help protect the building from premature aging. If your facility has serious air quality problems that are not cleared up with a good UV system, the design of the HVAC system and air distribution and return system can be checked by our staff.
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What does it cost to build a natatorium?
In most parts of the country an indoor natatorium is expected to cost $250 to $300/SF in 2007. This includes the cost of the pools. Many things can influence the final cost of the project: geographical location, quality of construction, materials selected, inflation, bidding climate (how busy contractors are), and other issues. A recent project was estimated by a local cost estimator in Juneau, Alaska to cost $419/SF. With soft costs, the project development costs were $587/SF. If you are in a high cost geographical area, you are probably aware of it. The most basic factor that influences project cost is the type of building selected (geographical factors not considered):

• Ideal: a masonry building with insulation between the structural wall and veneer with long span steel custom trusses built from tubular shapes or glued-laminated wood beams. This type of construction will cost $260 to $350/SF.
• Traditional: a masonry building with insulation between the structural wall and veneer with long span open web steel joists roof framing. This type of construction usually costs $230 to $280/SF.
• Structures Unlimited, Inc. or other glazed roof buildings: This building is constructed of aluminum box beam columns and arches with insulated translucent fiberglass panels, which can move to open to the sky in moderate weather. The choice for walls includes the fixed panels, sliding glass doors or a masonry curtain wall. This type of building is likely to cost $180 to $250/SF.
• Precast concrete or tilt-up concrete construction: This type of building offers a distinct possibility for saving costs in certain geographical areas when the size of project is very large, say 100,000 to 160,000 square feet. A smaller project will not achieve significant cost savings and should not consider this type. We have seen costs run $90 to $150/SF with this building type when conditions are right. The basic building can run under $50/SF, but special lighting, pool HVAC, the pools and other costs increase this base price.
• Metal Buildings: Generally we discourage the use of this inexpensive building type due to the likelihood of corrosion. When done properly with all galvanized and higher cost components to protect from corrosion IN SOUTHERN CLIMATES OF THE U.S., these buildings can be considered if you accept higher maintenance costs and shorter life to the building. Sometimes a metal building is the only way a pool is possible to build in a low budget situation. These projects can cost $75 to $100/SF. The basic building can run under $45/SF, but special lighting, pool HVAC, the pools and other costs increase this base price.
• Fabric Structures: The lowest cost of structure (other than air supported “bubbles”) is an aluminum or galvanized steel frame with fabric enclosure. This type of building is usually combined with a masonry support building for changing rooms and pool equipment. The cost usually runs $60 to $100/SF. The basic building can run under $25/SF, but special lighting, pool HVAC, the pools and other costs increase this base price.

Keep in mind that costs per square foot ($/SF) or “unit costs” are rough estimates only. There is an incredible economy of scale allowing large projects to fall significantly lower and smaller projects to be astoundingly higher than average. Geographical factors are a large influence in cost also. Costs in south Texas run nearly 30% lower than the national average, while costs in some large metro areas can run double the national average. Costs of a project in a neighboring community a couple of years ago can be 50% lower than current costs for a project that will not bid for another year. The best approach is to work with a professional who can help you determine what is appropriate for your community – appropriate in terms of quality, appearance, life cycle costs and initial costs.
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