Morcom Aquatics Center is Florida State University’s new, 100,000-squrae-foot athletic complex. The facility consists of separate swimming and diving tanks designed for academic use, athletics, and recreational fitness.
Setting the tone for the Center, FSU purchased the 2005 FINA World Championships pool, in which nine world records were broken.
This exceptionally fast, 80 degree, 50-meter by 25-yard competition pool is eight feet to nine feet deep. Wide gutter construction and gutter hung touchpads maintain the gutter’s ability to absorb wave energy and well-designed, properly tensioned floating lane lines keep the swimmer’s waves isolated in one lane, while helping smooth out the water within the lane.
The 75 by 60 foot diving well features two 1-meter and two 3-meter springboards and 10-foot wide platforms (the widest in the nation) that can accommodate synchronized diving. The diving platforms include custom fabricated flared handrails to increase diver performance and safety. The diving pool goes from 14- to 17-feet deep and features a sparger (compression bubble) system to soften divers’ impact during entry.
To allow for academic and recreational use, two 4-foot wide bulkheads create 30 practice lanes, and the versatility of dividing the pool to accommodate other aquatic lessons, fitness, and activities.
Complementing the pools, a 115 square foot whirlpool spa with hydrotherapy jets provides a warm water retreat for athletes and students and The 10,000 square foot bath house features spacious locker rooms, coaches offices and storage areas for the athletes equipment and coaching staff.
To ensure that everything remains at a comfortable temperature, FSU also pursued an environmentally friendly geothermal heating and cooling system for the bathhouse and swimming pools. The system keeps these outdoor pools warm during the winter months and a perfect 80 to 82 degrees during the dog days of summer.
All told, this new aquatic facility is a welcome addition to FSU and fulfills multiple aquatic programming needs for students, the FSU Athletic Department, social interaction, friendly competition, and a sense of team or personal accomplishment for participants of all skill levels and abilities.
NUTS & BOLTS
Opened: 2008
Cost: $10.5 million
Aquatic space: 17,734
Dream amenities: The aquatic amenities consists of a 50-meter by 25-yard competition pool with water depths of 8- to 9-feet; a 75-foot by 60-foot diving pool with water depths of14- to 17-feet; and a 115-square-foot whirlpool spa
PROJECT TEAM
- Dream Designer: Counsilman-Hunsaker
- Architect: EMO/Architects
- Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer:McClure Engineering
- Structural Engineer: McComas Engineering
- Electrical Engineer: Tomlinson Peterson Associates
- Civil Engineer: George & Associates
- General Contractor: LLT Building Corp.
- Pool Contractor: Weller Pools
PROJECT SUPPLIERS
- AquaCal,AutoPilot: Heaters
- Competitor Swim Products: Lane markers
- Duraflex International: Dive stands
- ITT Marlow: Pumps
- KDI-Paragon Aquatics: Stairs
- Kiefer Pool Equipment Co.: Starting blocks
- Myrtha Pools USA: Pool wall panels, flooring, gutter, diving sparger
- NECS Technology: Chemical control systems
- Nemato Corp.: Filters
- Pentair Water Commercial and Aquatics: Lighting
- Stark Bulkheads: Bulkheads
- Stenner Pump Co.: Pumps
- Surewater Technologies: Sanitation equipment
