Pullen Aquatic Center is the City of Raleigh's premier competitive aquatic venue, hosting several large-scale swimming competitions annually. In 1991, Counsilman Hunsaker designed the original stretch 50-meter x 25-yard main pool with a 1-meter diving well and an adjoining therapy pool.
In 2015, Counsilman-Hunsaker provided swimming pool audits for their eight outdoor swimming pools for the City of Raleigh: Millbrook, Optimist, Ridge Road, Biltmore Hills, Longview, Chavis, Lake Johnson, and Pullen. The audits identified substandard items for each pool and their mechanical equipment, items not meeting current health code requirements or industry standards, and equipment that was not operating as designed. The audits included a review of the pool and pool finishes, assessment of pools’ structural integrity, assessment of pools’ overflow systems, review of pool decks, and a visual assessment of pool piping. Counsilman-Hunsaker provided an opinion of probable cost for each of the City of Raleigh's pool as well as immediate and future recommendations.
In 2018, the city decided the 40,000 sq. ft. Pullen Aquatic Center facility needed extensive renovations. Completed in June 2019, the renovation project included a new roof, skylight replacement, structural repair, replacement of natatorium lighting, diving board replacement, pool gutter and deck tile, new gutter grating, and new HVAC units.
Additionally, after assessing the information found in the audits, the City of Raleigh retained Counsilman-Hunsaker for renovation services for the Ridge Road Pool and the Biltmore Hills Pool. Renovations for both were completed in mid-2019.
The Ridge Road Pool repairs included the installation of a new stainless-steel perimeter overflow gutter with an integral pressure tube for return water and a new PVC liner to provide a watertight pool. Additionally, new pool handrails, stair rails, a deck drainage system, and new sunshades to the pool deck were installed.
The Biltmore Hills Pool included the same repairs as the Ridge Road Pool. In addition to these repairs was a new 380 sq. ft. spray pad with above grade and deck level spray features.