Aquatic Design Group provided design and engineering services for the development of a much-needed new community aquatic center in Merriam, Kansas.

SERVICES PROVIDED

THE CHALLENGE

Merriam’s Aquatic Center was originally all-outdoors, outdated, and too large to economically sustain. After years of debate and working closely with residents who were concerned that the new, more efficient center was too small, the final designs the included an additional $1.6 million to accommodate more outdoor pool space, including expanding the outdoor pool from 25 yards to 25 meters and adding two more lanes. Merriam Mayor Ken Sissom worked hard to communicate that the additional indoor aquatic space more than balanced the loss of outdoor space from the older aquatic center, and provided year-round accessibility to residents.

The Solution

The new aquatics center includes a new indoor 2,800 SF leisure and lap pool (four-lane x 25-yards) with lazy river and slide, and a small indoor therapy pool. Outdoors, there is a large outdoor leisure pool with beach entry and water play features, and an eight-lane x 25-meter lap pool. The aquatic center is only one part of a beautiful new 66,000 SF rec center on a seven-acre site in the heart of the Merriam community.

Aquatic Design Group included several FUN features in our design, including an air activated "rapid simulator" depth charge bubbler on the lazy river in the indoor activity pool, activated by interactive features located on the pool deck. Mechanical features of note include a compressor for the depth charge bubbler, hi-rate sand filters with heat exchangers, and PPG chemical feed system.

The Results

The aquatic center opened in July of 2020, and the indoor pool opened briefly in October 2020, but COVID-related executive orders soon shut it down again. The indoor pool opened again to the community on March 1, 2021, and the outdoor pool opened on May 31 for the 2021 season. Residents have enjoyed the facilities all season long on a daily basis and with special events such as Family Fun Fridays, “Dive-In” movies, swim and dive meets, and other acts and events.

PROJECT DATA

Owner: City of Merriam Parks and Recreation

Client: Clark & Enersen, Inc.; Perkins + Will

Contractor: PCL Construction

Specialty Pool Contractor: Westport Pools

Date Completed: Fall 2020

Aquatics Budget: $4,466,075