UI to spend up to $6 million on pool renovations
Hunter
6/6/19
Less than a decade after its opening, the pool at the UI Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is in need of renovations.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that air handling units, which include pumps, piping and controls, have proven unreliable to the point that the Board of Regents is recommending their replacement.
Vice President of Finance and Operations Rod Lehnertz says the UI’s pool is not the only facility to have problems with the “PoolPak” air handling units, telling the Regents that due to the corrosive nature of the aquatic centers, they have not held up well. Access to replacement parts has also become an issue over the years.
The school hosts the Big Ten and NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, and decided that the best fix is replacement as soon as possible to prevent significant down time during the swim season.
The cost, estimated between $5 and $6 million, would be paid for by Athletic Department gifts and income, with additional funds from the recreation renewal and replacement budget.
The new units are said to be of a more traditional design with readily available replacement parts, should they be needed. The plan is to replace one unit at a time, to keep the Center available for use throughout the replacement process.
