New UBC Aquatic Centre  – Facts and Figures

  • Construction of the $39-million facility began in August, 2014.
  • It is designed by Acton Ostry Architects Inc. and MacLennan Jaunklans Miller Architects;
  • The building covers about 80,000 square-feet and is targeting LEED Gold certification
  • The 50-metre, 25-metre, leisure pool and hot tub contain a combined 4.9 million litres of water.
  • There are accessibility ramps to the 25-metre and leisure pools and a permanent power lift into the 34-person hot tub.
  • There is also a steam room and sauna.
  • It features 16,040 square-feet of windows and skylights and a 460-person mezzanine for spectators.
  • An underground 1.3-million litre holding tank will harvest rainwater from the roof to replenish evaporated pool water as required. It’s anticipated the pool will use 2.7-million litres of rainwater annually.
  • The disinfection system uses both chlorine and UV.
  • The facility will apply research by UBC Okanagan scientists to remove chloramines from the atmosphere using HVAC intake
  • The pools and the pool deck are covered with approximately 2.52 million tiles.
  • The facility has a total of 34 showers, with the universal change room providing 23 dedicated changing stalls / rooms;
  • Water in the lazy river moves at about 1.5 metres per second, but speed is adjustable.
  • With multiple pools, staff have the ability to adjust temperatures to accommodate a diversity of activities.
  • Facility capacity is 966 bathers.
  • The deepest pool is the 25-metre with a maximum depth of 4.5 metres.
  • There are two diving boards – a one and three-metre.
  • There is a rope swing in the 25-metre pool.
  • Prices of admission vary depending on time and home neighbourhood (residents of UBC pay slightly less).
  • Starting in March, the hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Facility access is free for currently registered UBC Students with their UBC Student Card. Each student must scan their card each visit. There is a $5.00 charge for UBC Students who do not pay Athletics & Recreation fees or don’t have their card at time of visit.

History of UBC Aquatics:

  • Empire pool constructed 1954 for the British Empire/Commonwealth Games (Closed 2014)
  • Current facility constructed 1978 (Closing 2017)
    (more history: http://sportfacilities.ubc.ca/ubc-aquatic-centre/aquatic-centre-history/)
  • 8 UBC swimmers and coaches competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics
  • UBC men’s swimming won 10 consecutive National Championships between 1998 and 2007
  • UBC women’s swimming won 11consecutive National Championships between 1998 and 2008

Contact

Matthew Ramsey
UBC Public Affairs
Tel: 604-827-0781
Cell: 604-518-5835
Email: matthew.ramsey@ubc.ca