In the commercial swimming pool industry, the overwhelming choice for pool piping material selection is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). The use of such materials can provide security, as it is non-corrosive, and if installed properly, some would say this pipe material can provide an almost infinite life span. But, in comparison to other pipe material selections, […]
As a full-service aquatic consulting firm, we strive to design facilities that meet the needs of all user groups. While many aquatic sport facilities revolve around competitive swimming, we certainly do not want to neglect diving. While most university and high school teams only have 5-10 divers on their roster, they can be a secret […]
Underwater pool lighting is a surefire way to add to the wow factor of your pool. Pool lighting can enhance a pool’s visual appeal, add visibility or even change the overall mood of the pool with lights that change colors. With recent advancements in underwater lighting technology, it is important to understand the proper terminology, […]
When it comes to the world of competitive swimming, there are stringent guidelines that everyone involved in the pool design process must take into consideration. This is especially true for water depths beneath starting blocks. Starting blocks are raised platforms typically mounted on the pool deck at the end of competitive swimming lanes. In most […]
In March 2014, Szostak Design and Counsilman-Hunsaker were commissioned by the City of Durham General Services Department to prepare a comprehensive assessment of the city’s five aquatic facilities and four spraygrounds. The team collected existing documentation, performed detailed site surveys of each facility and interviewed numerous aquatics department staff members. During this initial phase of […]
In May 2016, Schorr Architects, Inc. commissioned Counsilman-Hunsaker to provide a swimming pool audit. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources commissioned this audit to assist in identifying items that were substandard or not operating as designed. Counsilman-Hunsaker evaluated the existing outdoor and indoor bodies of water, with an evaluation of their respective mechanical systems, and […]
Three types of race courses are typically used with 50-meter pools: 25-yard, 25-meter and 50-meter. 25-yard courses are often used for high school and college competitive swimming. These can be set up in several different ways. For instance, you can either start or end from the bulkhead, and swim toward or away from the deep end. […]
VE or Value Engineering. Two words everyone on a project hates to hear (except for contractors and others that have found out how to work the system). What is Value Engineering? Often times when a project is over-budget, the owner, contractor, and design team will meet to find ways to reduce the cost of the […]
In the grand scheme of a pool design, many people stop the design process once all major decisions (pool size, shape, perimeter style, system equipment, etc.) have been made. After all, it is just a hole in the ground filled with water. However, this is when some of the smaller items can go unnoticed, be […]
The human body is sensitive to water temperature. It can even discern a water temperature differential as small as .5°F. Thus, the temperature of water varies between pools to correlate with the aquatic activity that will occur in the pool. This may be a temperature of 80°F for a 50-meter competition pool, 84°F for an […]
