College's New Natatorium Creatively Handles Humidity

Air exchange is a large job in the damp, humid environments of natatoriums, and most therefore share the dominant feature of large ducts hanging from the ceiling or hugging the perimeter of the space. The job is handled a bit differently in the College of New Rochelle's natatorium. A below-grade location and rooftop gardens between and around the rows of skylights led Ikon.5 Architects of Princeton, N.J., to specify structural concrete, and air passages are well hidden inside what are actually hollow forms that curve down to the floor. Minimizing the amount of metal exposed to chloramines is one clear advantage, with another being cleaner lines overhead. The only visible sign of the room's air handling system is the grates located beneath the skylights on the side of the concrete ceiling forms.

Air exchange    humidity    natatorium    ducts    chloramines