The residents of Salinas, Calif., have the greenest new aquatic facility around. The LEED Gold certified building has not only changed the way patrons swim and play but also set the standard for environmentally conscious design in the aquatics industry.

With an outdated 50-year-old swim complex, the City of Salinas was looking to upgrade to something bigger, better and greener. It needed a structure that would attract users, reflect the forward-looking nature of the municipality, and exist in harmony with the community and the environment.

Instead of doing a costly update to the existing site, city officials chose to start fresh with a brand-new build. The goal was to construct a facility that was cost-effective and would provide a strong sense of public identity. OpenAire offered a plan for a distinctive, highly functional retractable polycarbonate roof enclosure for the swim area.

 The 17,000-square-foot Salinas Aquatic Center opened Sept. 8, 2009. The beautiful new 73-foot by 75-foot lap and activity pool is protected from the elements by a soaring 100-foot by 110-foot OpenAire glass and aluminum enclosure, under which swimmers exercise, take lessons, play and enjoy the sunshine. Designed with OpenAire’s exclusive maintenance-free thermally broken aluminum framing system, the pool natatorium features an operable roof that can open up to 50 percent in good weather. Translucent polycarbonate panels transmit an abundance of natural light, and the 15-foot-high vertical walls made of glass let in even more sunshine and provide great views of the beautifully landscaped grounds.

But for the City of Salinas, beauty and function were not the only considerations. One of the key goals of the facility was LEED Gold certification, and the OpenAire structure played a significant part of achieving that goal. 

By offering a level of long-term sustainability that traditional construction simply cannot achieve, the retractable roof has contributed to LEED Gold certification in a number of ways. For example, when the roof and sidewall doors are open, air flows through the building, eliminating the need for air-conditioning and dehumidification systems. HVAC systems are designed to turn off automatically when the roof is open, which results in tremendous energy savings. Additionally, the glazed structure floods the pool area with natural sunlight and eliminates the need for artificial lighting during the day. Lobby and office areas facing the pool have windows to capture natural light, as well, saving additional electricity and providing users with appealing sunlit spaces. In fact, OpenAire’s work received an additional LEED point due to the high percentage of daylit space. The glass enclosure also satisfied LEED requirements for spaces with views — swimmers have direct views of the surrounding area while they’re using the pool.

The beautiful new Salinas Aquatic Center has become a city landmark and a point of civic pride. The modern, appealing facility is fun. It offers more programs, increased accessibility, and models the effectiveness and beauty of building and living green.

Salinas Aquatic Center

Owner: City of Salinas, Calif.

Completed: Sept. 8, 2009

Size: 17,000 square feet

Architect: Glass Architects

Pool Enclosure: OpenAire

Pool Subcontractor: Western Water Features

Mechanical Engineer: CB Engineers

HVAC (for natatorium): Munters



David Bolwerk is vice president of sales and marketing for OpenAire, A designer, manufacturer and installer of custom retractable roofs, operable skylights and retractable enclosures. For the last 17 years, Bolwerk has been with OpenAire creating innovative structures that are redefining the aquatics industry.

For more information, visit www.openaire.com.