Related: Openaire Profile / Toronto Cricket Club’s beautiful retractable pool enclosure sets a new standard for private club aquatics / OpenAire COO nominated for 2010 RBC Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award / Edmonton’s Prestigious Royal Glenora Club offers members a breathtaking new pool with an OpenAire retractable enclosure
The Mike Shellito Indoor Pool in Roseville, California recently got a bright new makeover, thanks in part to the soaring OpenAire enclosure that covers the pool in cold or inclement weather, and opens it to fresh air and sunshine the rest of the time. OpenAire’s beautiful enclosure has helped this municipal pool meet two key goals – meet the aquatic needs of the community, and do it within their existing budget.
“It’s the only indoor pool in the city, and a facility that has been in the making for 12 years,” says Alexa Pritchard, who was Parks and Recreation Manager at Mike Shellito Indoor Pool when it first opened. “The delay had to do with funding. The city had wanted an indoor pool for quite some time, but had to come up with a solution that wouldn’t go beyond the city’s limited aquatics budget.”
The city had conducted several needs assessments, and the indoor pool was always at the top of the list for residents. There was great demand for a new swimming facility; children’s aquatics programs consistently had significant wait lists, and the outdoor facilities were used mostly for competitive swimming, but even when they were available, they could only be used in good weather. The city was looking for an indoor facility that filled the gap by providing a place for lessons, fitness programs and programs for seniors.
But first they had to find a solution that city council would approve – one that would not exceed the city’s general annual fund of $500K. “We had to prove the new facility would break even before we could break ground,” says Pritchard. “And with OpenAire, we did. The OpenAire retractable structure really saves us a lot of money in the long run.”
“With their weather, the roof can stay open seven or eight months of the year,” says Dave Bolwerk, OpenAire Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “That means they save a ton on cooling and dehumidification. Plus, it’s a beautiful structure that encourages more people to use it, which helps generate revenue.”
The city decided on OpenAire after seeing another building with a retractable glass roof. Pritchard had previously been involved with the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center in Henderson, Nevada, which used an OpenAire structure to create an indoor-outdoor retractable solution for their pool. When her director, Mike Shellito, asked her what she thought they should do in Roseville, Pritchard took him to see the Whitney Ranch project. The director, Mike Shellito was sold.
The new, state-of-the art facility has a 25 meter lap pool and a 1500 square meter teaching pool, both housed in the glass OpenAire enclosure. Built between two buildings to the architects’ specifications, the roof contains 20 opening panels and 14 tinted panels measuring 11’4” x 21’6”, which open up 40%.
The new facility has expanded the Roseville aquatics program dramatically. Plus, the city council’s strict financial requirements have been met; not having to pay for cooling and dehumidification most of the year and using natural light instead of artificial lighting have lowered costs tremendously.
The facility is on target for what it set out to do. There has been no new net added to the general fund, meaning they don’t have to dip into public funds. The Roseville Mike Shellito Indoor Pool is self-sufficient. City council is happy – and so are area residents.
“I think the OpenAire enclosure is perfect,” says Pritchard. “People love the pool and the feeling of being outside, and they have access to this amazing new place. It’s exciting that this facility has really reached beyond its boundaries and become a regional destination.”
About OpenAire
OpenAire has been designing and manufacturing beautiful, high-quality retractable roof enclosures and skylights for over 20 years. Their projects include the LEED Gold certified Salinas Aquatic Center in Salinas, California, Roseville’s Central Park Indoor Pool, Big Splash Island in French Lick, Indiana, the Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas and the world’s largest indoor waterpark with a retractable aluminum dome in Ukraine. By combining your unique vision with OpenAire’s expertise, incredible venues are a reality.