Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center
Long Beach, CA
Photos Courtesy of Roto Architects
The Belmont Plaza Pool is a symbol of Long Beach with a long-standing history of providing beach-front community recreation, U.S. Olympic swim trials and collegiate championships. In 2009, Counsilman-Hunsaker was retained to help develop a cost estimate to retrofit and upgrade the existing pool complex. Scenarios were developed for review providing aquatic competition, training, and leisure programming components. Options varied from basic renovation work to full replacement and enhancement. Each option focused on the goals of the city and the needs of the community.
In January 2013, the pool structure was deemed seismically unsafe in the event of a moderate earthquake and was closed permanently to protect the safety of the public.
Counsilman-Hunsaker was once again retained to provide aquatic design and engineering in August 2014. Plans are now underway for the redevelopment of the new Belmont Beach and Aquatics Center; a valuable asset and icon for the city. The existing Belmont Pool has been demolished and will be replaced with a complex that includes indoor and outdoor pool components. Spectator seating will also be provided for approximately 3,500 people through a combination of permanent and portable seating in the indoor and outdoor areas.
The new pool complex will include an indoor 50-meter competition pool with a moveable bulkhead and moveable floor, a separate indoor dive pool with a 10-meter dive tower, instructional pool, and two spas; as well as an outdoor 50-meter pool and recreation pool. The new complex will host recreational swim, competitive swim, water polo, and platform diving events that are currently hosted, consistent with all local/regional/national requirements.
The project is designed to achieve LEED Gold and will integrate sustainable features such as energy efficient equipment for conditioning indoor spaces, water conservation measures, energy efficient pool equipment and filtration systems, use of recycled materials, natural lighting to reduce energy consumption, LED light fixtures, managed site light pollution, solar water heating and other renewable energy sources.
