Designed for Lopez
Two pools. Two temperatures. One dome between you and the winter weather. In summer, nothing but sun, sky, and water. The Lopez Swim Center is built for swimmers in every season — and designed to tread more lightly on the island it calls home.
Two Pools, Two Temps = Twice the Fun
Having two pools accommodates more activities and more skill levels.
Heated to about 88°F, the warm-water wellness pool will be an ideal temperature for learning to swim, gentle exercise, and aqua therapy. The warmer temperature is good for swimming lessons, senior water classes, and physical therapy. The steps into the pool stretch across 12 feet, doubling as a place where people can relax and kids can learn to put their heads under water while still sitting in shallow water.
The 25-yard, four-lane lap pool will be kept at a lower temp to accommodate more-active swimmers and recreational swim times. Its 7.5-foot deep end will facilitate having lifeguard certification classes on-island and enable emergency responders to train in water-rescue techniques.
Keep Swimming, No Matter the Weather
A Year-Round Pool. As anyone in the PNW knows, when it’s nice outside, it’s really nice. And when it’s not—well, batten down the hatches. Or in the case of the Swim Center, put up the heated Arizon dome.
Open-air in the summer, enclosed in the winter, we’re designed for year-round comfort. The dome is far less expensive to build, operate, and maintain, and eliminates the need entirely for air-conditioning and dehumidification during the summer. That, and honestly, who wants to swim indoors on one of those perfect PNW summer days?
Sustainability
Time and research have yielded what we believe will be the most responsible and sustainable way of managing a swim center on our rural island, with its limited resources. Because our community wouldn’t have it any other way.
Efficient Heat Pumps
Caring for our island means caring about how we use energy. High-efficiency electric heat pumps provide heat for both pools and the seasonal dome, and supply hot water for showers. This all-electric system was designed to maximize energy efficiency while supporting year-round swimming on Lopez Island.
Greater Water Savings
Even though FLIP has a abundant well on-site, there’s no reason to waste water. Using modern regenerative media filters, pool water will be recirculated and sanitized, saving about 24,000 gallons of water each month compared to traditional sand filters, and helping conserving this precious resource.
Long-Lived Steel Pools
The all-steel Myrtha pools that were selected are long-lived and durable, with less embodied energy and maintenance requirements of concrete pools.
Seasonal Dome
The seasonal use of the Arizon dome will result in less yearly energy used for artificial heating and lighting, and let islanders bask in the summer sun. The dome fabric comes with a 20-year warranty, although users report far longer in practice. We’ve planned conservatively in our capital maintenance reserve fund for a Year 20 replacement.
We've Got 'Em Covered
We'll be covering the pools when they're not in use—one of the most effective means of reducing pool-heating costs. Pool covers also conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30% to 50%. With reduced evaporation, chemical use is also reduced by 35% to 60%. When the dome isn’t in place, covers keep dirt and other debris out of the pools, keeping them cleaner, longer.
UV Tech
Ultraviolet (UV) light technology is one of the most environmentally friendly, low-maintenance pool disinfection methods available today. An added level of disinfection, UV complements the disinfecting effectiveness of chlorine by destroying bacteria, and biologic and chemical by-products that chlorine alone cannot destroy.
More Water Savings
The Swim Center's well serve two purposes: providing water for the Center’s use and also providing potable water for the Lopez School. Conservation measures for the pools, which include recirculation, use of pool covers, and high-tech filtration and sanitation systems, will greatly reduce the need for replenishing the water.
Our Little Scrubbers
By slowly moving around the pool, collecting and removing debris and other contaminants, robotic pool cleaners will keep the pools cleaner, cutting down on additional chemical use. Running on their own schedule, they maintain water quality consistently without the energy demands of traditional cleaning systems — so the pools stay cleaner around the clock.
