MIT engaged Counsilman-Hunsaker to conduct an in-depth analysis of the Alumni Pool's existing conditions and develop renovation options to ensure the facility’s continued functionality. Serving as a campus landmark since 1939, the Alumni Pool initially hosted MIT’s competitive swimming events before the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center became the primary venue in 2002. The facility also holds historical significance, having been utilized for research by Jacques Cousteau.
The Alumni Pool comprises two separate tanks drained in 2023 as part of a project to repair the surrounding deck slab. Shortly after the pools were emptied, a black substance began seeping from the walls, a phenomenon MIT had observed the last time the pools were drained approximately 20 years earlier. Subsequent investigation identified the substance as coal tar pitch. Core samples from the pool walls revealed significant water saturation, resulting in delaminated tiles and migration of the original coal tar pitch waterproofing. Given these findings and the pools’ construction methodology, Counsilman-Hunsaker recommended the Myrtha RenovAction system as a durable solution to revitalize the facility for decades. Detailed opinions on probable construction costs and total project expenses were also provided to assist MIT in its decision-making process.