Hempstead High School Natatorium

The existing pool at Hempstead High School was nearly 50 years old and leaking some 4,000 gallons of water each week. The pool eventually had to be closed because the soil under it was saturated with water, the pool didn’t meet competition standards, and the facility wasn’t “user friendly.” 

The school district chose to build a new natatorium on campus in partnership with the Dubuque Area Swimmin’ Hurricanes, or DASH. DASH proposed a 25-year agreement in which it could use the pool when it is not in use by the district in return for raising $1 million to cover the cost of expanding the width of the pool from 60 to 75 feet and stretching the length of the pool to include a short-course lap pool and a diving pool separated by a floating bulkhead. 

The new, wider pool allows the Hempstead and Dubuque Senior High School teams to both start practice right after school, which in turn allows DASH teams access to the pool earlier in the day.

LEAD ARCHITECT

FRK Architects

AQUATIC DESIGN CONSULTANT

Counsilman-Hunsaker

COMPONENTS

• Stretch 25-yard lap pool with eight competition lap lanes and 16 cross-course lap lanes 

• Two 1-meter diving boards 

• Movable bulkhead

SUPPLIERS