Nearly a year ago, the construction on the new Aquatics Center at Niles North High School began; since then the builders have made tremendous progress. Luckily, the weather has been cooperative, too, as the project to date is on time.

Besides renovating the 48-year old existing pool, construction workers are building a new competition pool. The renovations and additions comprise 35,000 square feet.

Not only does this pool benefit the 2,500 students and 275-plus athletes, but it also provides use by the community as well. The renovations will help enhance both the physical education classes as well as support the swimming, diving and even water polo teams.

“Hopefully this will offer that opportunity to start a real water polo team [at Niles North],”  Keith Robinson, assistant principal of operations, said. “We will probably start it as a club and then work from there.”

The Aquatics Center will maintain swim programs of local park districts as well as provide open swim for the community. The new center will be energy and resource efficient. The center will also include water-efficient systems such as shower controls, water bottle fillers and electronic water coolers.

The new competition pool will begin at 7 feet deep to 14-feet deep. It accommodates eight-lane or 25-meter swim.  There will be a movable bulkhead as to allow a separate 14-feet diving well. There will be two three-foot concrete diving boards as well as a 10-foot diving platform.

Besides the new pool, there will be a coaching office which will allow visibility of both pools, as well as renovated locker rooms and separate wet and dry corridors. A green-roof will be accessible from the upper bleachers. Both pools will be ADA compliant. An elevator will allow easy access to both the main and upper deck. Additionally, the new corridor will provide access to the west gym balcony, gymnasium balcony and both gyms.

“I’m eager to see how the Aquatics Center will turn out. I am especially excited for the swim team,” Esther Dvorkin of the Niles North girls swim team said. “We’ll have an amazing new pool and no longer have to commute.”