Fort Wainwright Aquatics Center

Coffman provided multidiscipline civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection engineering services for the design and construction of a new 29,495 sf indoor Aquatics Center (AqC) in an area central to troop activity in the town center of Fort Wainwright. Prior to the development of this facility, soldiers and their families had limited on-post options for family fitness, recreation, and entertainment. This facility also provides another area for soldier training.

The new facility includes a 25 meter long lap pool with diving boards, a kid’s pool, a splash pad area with a climbing feature, a water slide feature, and an aquatic obstacle course. It also includes a pool deck waiting/lounge area and a lap swim viewing area separated from, but adjacent to, the pool deck. This fully compliant ADA/ABA facility was completed via design-build project delivery.

The scope of work included parking for twenty-five vehicles with outlets to plug in vehicles during winter months. The building envelope, foundation, structure, and other building systems were designed to withstand the subarctic Alaskan climate, including significant flat roof snow and snow drifts. Air handling units were installed in a weatherproof roof-mounted enclosure with direct access from inside to avoid maintenance personnel working outside during the cold winter months.

Support functions for this new facility include mechanical/electrical equipment rooms, fire, communications, a reception/check-in counter, a manager’s office, male/female/family bathrooms with lockers, showers, and changing areas, a party room, an admin office space, an employee break/training area, a janitors’ room, and other storage. The facility design also incorporated adequate space for pool chemical storage and a mechanical area designated specifically for pool plumbing/mechanical systems.