Community Open House

The public is invited to the Community Open House for the Niles North High School Aquatics Center held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at 9800 Lawler, Skokie. Tour the state-of-the-art facilities, watch the Niles North swimmers/divers in action, and learn about community swim lessons and other opportunities

Almost Open...

The Niles North Aquatics Center is slated to become the first LEED for Schools Gold certified aquatics facility in Illinois. The design reduces energy use by 44% compared to a standard code-compliant building of similar size, resulting in annual energy savings of 31.5%.  The Grand Opening of the Facility is slated for October, but you can see images of the completed facility HERE.

 

View looking NE at the SW corner of the Aquatics Center

Bubbler Arrives

The new bubbler system (also called sparging system), designed by Pulsair Systems has recently been installed below the 3m and one of the 1m diving boards in the new Aquatics Center.

 But what exactly is a bubbler system? It’s a way to reduce the surface tension of the water to provide a softer landing for the diver’s during training. The system injects compressed air from a tank (below) into long diffusers (left) at the bottom of the pool.  Air bubbles rise and aerate the water surface to create a soft cushion of air and water for the diver. 

The system allows divers to try new and more complex dives without a fear of landing incorrectly. Coaches can use a remote control to adjust the system as they move around the pool.
Thanks to Pulsair Systems for the photos

In the Home Stretch

Well, we are less than a month away and there is a lot going on at the Niles North Aquatics Center.  The exterior metal panel installation is close to completion and site work is well underway to provide a new sidewalk and access road along the south end of the addition.

 

View of the Southeast corner of the Aquatics Center



View of the Southwest corner of the Aquatics Center

 

 There is even more activity taking place on the interior as finish materials (textured wall panels, ceramic tile, glass guardrails, etc) continue to be installed and the existing pool has even begun to be filled.  The new pool should be filled by the end of the month and then the focus will turn to the testing and balancing of the mechanical units and pool filtration equipment.



View of Entry Corridor Concessions and Display Case



View looking East at New Pool - Glass Guardrail, Bleachers and Starting Blocks are now in place



View of 1m and 3m Diving Platforms

View of Existing Pool - Pool should be completely filled today or tomorrow

Happy Summer!

While most people are excited to get outside and hit the pools for summer, we are excited because our pools are finally enclosed.  The installation of the metal panel at the overhangs continues, but the rest of the exterior construction has been completed on the new Aquatics Center.  This now allows the contractors to finish off the interior finishes, with a main focus on the tile installation.  Less than 2 months left to go...



View of Southwest corner of Aquatics Center

View of the South Elevation of the Aquatics Center

View looking East at the Existing Pool Tile installation

View looking West inside the new Competition Pool

View looking East inside the new Competition Pool

The Bulkhead Has Arrived

Image of the Bulkhead which is just over 60' long and was delivered in a single piece!
 

The month of May has brought some exciting changes to the Aquatics Center.  Tile installation, painting, exterior glass installation, pool concrete and the delivery of the Bulkhead which will be used to separate the swimming section from the diving.  This piece of equipment will provide flexibility for the new pool to allow a 25y swim course, 25m swim course or water polo, all while maintaining a separate diving well.



View inside looking East - The Bulkhead is iinstalled and is currently resting along the east end of the pool
 

View inside looking East in Existing Pool - Deck Tile and Painting are almost complete

View inside looking West - 1m and 3m Diving Platforms have been completed and the interior masonry is almost complete

 

View looking East - Translucent glass installation is almost complete, which will provide natural ligth without the glare

Interior starting to take shape

View inside Entry Corridor - Concessions and Display Case

 

 

View looking West from Public Corridor

With the exterior of the Aquatic Center in good shape, the focus has shifted to the interior.  The concrete slab for the new pool has been completed and the walls have been poured for the diving well.  Light fixtures are installed, painting is ongoing and tiling of the public toilet rooms has begun.  Prep work for the existing pool deck tile replacement has completed and soon the new tile will start to be installed to give the existing pool a fresh look.  Legat Architects also continues to provide construction tours for the Niles North Architecture/Engineering class on a bi-weekly basis.  The class has been exposed to various stages of the construction process and the next milestone that the class will have an opportunity to observe is the concrete pour for the new pool deck. 


View looking South from Existing Pool to New Pool



View looking at New Pool Slab from Balcony
 



View looking West from the Balcony