Constructed by Wisconsin-based Riley Construction and designed by Partners In Design Architects, the new addition was unveiled on 10 June 2010. It is designed as the focal point of the entire facility and spans over 42, 000 square feet. Recognised for its various innovative elements, the addition features a 50m, Olympic-size competition swimming pool.
The challenging aspects of the new addition includes: addressing site dewatering and soil and foundation stabilising challenges resulting from construction within 15 feet of Lake Andrea; construction on top of a buried gravel pit turned garbage dump; implementing an aggressive and proactive safety program to assure worker safety resulting in no incidents or lost-time injuries; and meeting the exacting standards of USA Swimming to hold sanctioned competitive swim meets, making it only the second certified Olympic-size competition pool in Wisconsin.
The project is also studded with several innovative sustainable features to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Silver certification.
The project reduces the pool’s dependence on harsh chemicals for water treatment through the use of a state-of-the-art ultraviolet treatment system. The scheme takes advantage of a huge natural geothermal heating/cooling source in Lake Andrea and many other ‘green’ materials to lessen the maintenance burden and costs. Achieving LEED certification would make the Aqua Arena one of the only three pool-specific projects to earn the LEED designation in the US.
Riley Construction and Partners In Design Architects have collaborated on all design and construction projects at the LakeView RecPlex facility since its conception. The LakeView RecPlex Aqua Arena facility spans over 310, 000 square feet, making it the largest municipally-owned community recreation centre in the US.
