If you were building a brand new pool

[mrs.jacinthe]

at a gym, and it was up to you to decide what it was like....  (The sky is the limit here, although it is unlikely that I'll get even half of what I ask for - I'm gathering a wishlist for my gym's new facility.)

What features would you want?
Length?
Lanes?
Depth?
Temperature?
Preferred water chemicals?

This is a typical gym setup: pool is used for lap swim, aqua classes (like aqua zumba and water aerobics), masters, swim lessons, play time for kids, etc.  Two separate pools are not out of the question, although less likely due to $$.  Most likely configuration is one multi-use pool.

[bluelikejazz]

8 lanes (or as many as possible), 50 meters if possible (50 meters x 25 yards is my favorite pool size), but 25 is fine, depth going from shallowest to deepest on the diagonal. So maybe 3 feet - 5 feet on the shallow end and 10-12 feet at the deep end.

Or an L-shaped pool. Long side at 25 meters/yards x 6 lanes (3 ft - 10 ft) with a shallower "kids area" on the short side of the L.

Temperature ~80-82 degrees.

Chlorine if there are going to be kids.

And a really nice digital pace clock!

Hot tub on the side.

[Susie]

Ideal:
- 50m x 25yd pool with moveable bulkhead to make 25m configuration also possible. 
- Starting blocks on permanent walls, not the bulkhead.  (Ask George Mason University how it works out putting them on the bulkhead.)
- Temp:  78-80*F.  NO WARMER.
- Separate pool with warmer water for the old fogies, little kids, and people who like to be in the pool but aren't seriously working out in the pool.  That can be 86-88*F.  The separate pool should be big enough to accommodate all those activities so people who want warm water aren't using the competition pool out of necessity and then grousing about how cold it is.
- I am adaptable to Cl or Br systems, so I don't care much about that.  Br tends to dry my skin more, but Cl smells stronger.  Shrug.
- Digital pace clock/timing system with board for all lanes.

I don't dive, so I'm sure there are plenty of characteristics that divers care about that I'm ignorant of.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Side question: would you prefer salt water over chlorine or bromine?

[Susie]

I don't think I've ever swum in a salt water pool, so I don't know! I think my Y uses some salt (is that a thing, some salt and some Br/Cl?), because the water always tastes a little salty. I don't like that, it feels like I'm swimming in sweat.

[Deleted]

- Big digital clocks for timing
- Two pools (a rec pool for kids/water aerobics and lane pool) is ideal
- Built in speakers (my last pool had this for the synchronized swimmers, I loved swimming when they were practicing, for the music)

[bluelikejazz]

No to salt water - I'm just not used to it. I have swum in salt water pools, and it's exactly what you'd expect - salty. I'd rather a mouth full of Chlorine water than salt water.

[katandkevin]

I like a 50x25 pool too. I prefer a 25m pool to swim in, but either is fine. The pool I swim in has a UV filter (I think) so they have to use way less chlorine. I have no idea what temp they keep our pool at. It is chilly when you first jump in, but it warms up quickly. They also have 4 big digital clocks so you can see them from anywhere in the pool.

[arch01]

Everything that Susie said. Except I prefer no warmer than 78.

As an employee-if I'm teaching the little rugrats, a pool that is cold enough to lap swim in (competitive-76 to 78 degrees) is too cold for the wee ones. I freeze trying to teach in those temps for an hour at a time-and I have ample body fat (er, insulation). The rugrats don't. A zero depth area to accommodate wee ones and those with mobility difficulties (a lot of water fitness people are in there for rehab).

As a swimmer-I'm adaptable to distance-yds v m, 25 v 50, I really don't care. Just keep the pool chilly and I'm happy. I prefer chlorine over bromine, and have no experience lap swimming in salt water pools, but if I were to make an argument on long term sustainability and cleanliness of the pools-I'd put my 2 cents in about type of cleansing system.

Also: some sort of noise dampening system. Pools often overlook this. If you're having swim team practice (or Masters, whatever) and water fitness going on at one time-that can pose a challenge. And... drinking fountains on deck. My facility doesn't have this and it drives me batty. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

OMG, keep the ideas coming, ladies! This is great!

Right now, we're looking at a convertible indoor-to-outdoor facility. The owner is leaning toward one pool for financial reasons (apparently it's nearly a quarter million difference to add the second pool). I'm hoping all these requests will convince him to do two.

I'm also thinking the pool needs a water fountain/bottle filling station. I'm making this HUGE list of things the pool/facility needs. Hopefully half of them make it into the final design.

[arch01]

Jan 21, 2014 14:55:58 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

OMG, keep the ideas coming, ladies! This is great!

Right now, we're looking at a convertible indoor-to-outdoor facility. The owner is leaning toward one pool for financial reasons (apparently it's nearly a quarter million difference to add the second pool). I'm hoping all these requests will convince him to do two.

I'm also thinking the pool needs a water fountain/bottle filling station. I'm making this HUGE list of things the pool/facility needs. Hopefully half of them make it into the final design.

From a design background (architecture) and also from an employee and swimmer background, I'd suggest having a list of non-negotiables (storage room, other things you deem necessary) and a list of nice-to-haves. That way something doesn't get cut down the road that non-aquatic people think isn't necessary but your background says otherwise.

As for the 1 v 2 pool argument: I'd pose the following questions to the owner:

What services do you want to provide for the members? What is your long term vision for this facility?

You're never going to satisfy everyone-but there are some large groups that you don't want to piss off-and groups that in general, don't work well together. The "happy medium" means that members on both ends will be jumping ship when the next best thing opens up that fits more of their needs.

[lasagnasshole]

Just saw this. I would add: BIG clocks. Multiple. And any rules/signs should be in BIG print. My gym's are way too small. I don't wear contacts at the pool. I can't read any of the signs or the clock. It sucks.

As for temperature, I've found 80-81 to be ideal at my gym. When the heat pump broke, it got down to 75 and below, and it was just too cold for me. I tried one day and made it 7 laps before I had to give up. I think I'm a slow-to-average swimmer when it comes to the non-competitive types, and I just could not warm up. I think 80-81 is warm enough for water aerobics classes, slower swimmers, water walkers/joggers, and kids without being so hot that the faster/competitive swimmers are dying.

No opinion on chemicals. I did once swim in a salt water pool, and that was nice, mostly because I smelled SO MUCH LESS like chemicals. Right now, I feel like I'm Pigpen with a cloud of pool-chemical smoke following me.

As for distance, that probably depends on your target audience here. I've only ever swum in 25-yard pools because I'm a recreational/fitness swimmer and have never done anything competitive. 50 meters will feel really long to new swimmers and kids. I have no strong opinion on the matter, but I'd just think about that aspect.