‘Conversation Pit’ is Focal Point of Campus Pool

One way to distinguish a leisure pool meant for children from a leisure pool intended for adults is the lack of brightly colored play equipment in the adults' pool. Another is in the design of the pool shell itself. The Florida Atlantic University Recreation Center's outdoor pool comes in three sections: A beach-entry rectangle for recreational swimming, a lap pool for working out, and what amounts to a "conversation pit" that joins them. Borrelli + Partners of Coral Gables, Fla., designed the pool's living room as 532 square feet of water surface containing two facing C-shaped underwater benches. Two areas of pool deck outfitted with deck chairs allow sunbathers to get in on the conversation, too, or toss a ball from one side to the other. Not intended to host any water fitness activities, the space's water depth transitions from 3 feet on the recreational side to 5 feet on the lap pool side.

leisure pool    pool    Florida Atlantic University    Recreation Center    Borrelli + Partners