Cary Street Gym’s aquatic center to undergo renovations starting April 17

By Brian McNeill

The aquatic center at Virginia Commonwealth University's Cary Street Gym will undergo a major renovation project beginning in April that will bring notable improvements to the facility.

The upgrades include replacing the HVAC system, draining and replastering the pools, resurfacing the pool deck, removing the slide, replacing the starting platforms and installing a new lighting system.

"We are thrilled for these updates, as they will greatly improve the comfort, safety and overall environment for our members," wrote the team at Recreation and Well-Being, part of the Division of Student Affairs, in a message to Cary Street Gym users.

The aquatic center will close for the renovations beginning Friday, April 17, with an anticipated reopening in mid-September.

RecWell has been working closely with VCU Facilities Management and the project contractor to establish a timeline that minimizes disruption to patrons.

The aquatic center renovations are much-needed and will result in an enhanced experience for users, said Mat C. Scott, aquatics and safety coordinator with RecWell.

"Replastering the pools and resurfacing the pool deck will improve the longevity of our facilities and make them easier to clean and maintain," he said. "Our current lighting system is outdated and failing, so we are excited to upgrade to more modern, efficient and reliable fixtures."

Scott noted multiple benefits associated with a new ventilation system.

"The HVAC update is long overdue, as our current system has been failing intermittently throughout the last year. Completing this upgrade will hopefully reduce the need to pay for costly emergency repairs," he said. "The HVAC updates will also improve both comfort and safety of our members and staff. Efficient air circulation helps to reduce that 'chlorine smell' you get when you walk into a pool area, and reduced humidity helps keep our pool fixtures and equipment from corroding."

The HVAC replacement, Scott added, will also result in a safer working environment for staff.

"We have had the HVAC system go down in the middle of the summer, which has seen us hit indoor heat indexes of 95 or higher sometimes," he said. "Being in those conditions for a long period of time can increase the risk of fatigue and heat-related illness for our lifeguards, which in turn means it can be dangerous for our members."

RecWell acknowledges that the aquatic center closure may cause an inconvenience, and the staff appreciates patrons' patience and flexibility.

"Our hope is that when we reopen in the fall, our members will be able to see the immediate benefits of these projects as well as the long-term impacts," Scott said.

If users have questions regarding their membership status during the closure, please email [email protected]. For all other renovation-related inquiries, please email [email protected].