Featuring a 50-meter-by-25-yard competition pool, a wellness/leisure pool, a whirlpool, spectator seating, locker rooms, administration areas and associated support spaces, the Wilson Aquatic Center is designed to be a premier venue for the District of Columbia.
The urban site is bound by constraints on all sides. To the west is historic Woodrow Wilson High School, to the south and east are forested-wetland-area buffer lines, and a significant ground slope runs from north to south. The two-level design fits the site’s natural slope, while the plan elements and glazed openings are oriented to leverage prevailing winds and the sun cycle.
Clerestory window openings around the competition pool fill the natatorium with natural light. Large arched northeastern windows provide daylighting while reflecting the character of the school. During competitions, the lower portions of the arch windows are equipped with electronically controlled fold-down screens that minimize glare. The facility is designed for natural ventilation during the spring and fall seasons, as incoming air enters through operable windows along the southern sides of the building, and exhaust fans are located at the northeast clerestory openings.
The building’s brick facade is articulated with arches, and horizontal cast stone sills and coping. The wave-like roof structure above the competition pool complements the masonry plinth and creates an identity for the new facility.
