Reimagine On-Campus Wellness and Recreation with Aquatic Engineering

While competition pools remain a point of pride for collegiate athletic programs, today’s campuses are reimagining aquatic facilities as multi-use environments that support student wellness, academic programming, physical therapy, and meaningful community engagement.

Through comprehensive aquatic engineering, Ramaker helps colleges and universities transform competition-focused natatoriums into holistic aquatic centers that will serve student-athletes, the broader student population, faculty, and surrounding communities for decades to come.

Expanding Competition Pools into Campus Recreation Assets

At the core of many campus natatoriums is a competition-grade pool designed to meet NCAA or conference standards. These pools are essential to the success of varsity swim and dive teams, but they are often underutilized outside of practices and meets.

Ramaker’s aquatic engineering team collaborates closely with architects and campus stakeholders to design facilities that extend the value of competition pools beyond athletics. Strategic design and engineering considerations may include:

• Flexible lane configurations that support competition, lap swimming, fitness classes, recreational uses (picture inflatable obstacle course or deck-mounted climbing walls), and instructional use
• Pool depths and edge conditions that allow for safe, accessible recreational programming for community members of all ages and abilities
• Spectator seating layouts that balance meet-day requirements with everyday campus use
• Structural and mechanical systems engineered for high-traffic, year-round operation

By approaching aquatic design holistically, Ramaker helps universities maximize utilization while maintaining competitive performance standards.

Supporting Student Wellness Through Aquatic Engineering

Campus recreation centers play a critical role in student health, wellness, and retention. Aquatic environments offer unique physical and mental health benefits that traditional fitness spaces cannot replicate.

Through thoughtful aquatic engineering, Ramaker designs natatoriums that prioritize accessibility, comfort, and inclusivity. Recreation-focused aquatic features may include:

• Open swim areas that encourage casual, stress-relieving activity
• Resistance channels and lap pools for low-impact cardiovascular training
• Accessible entries and circulation paths that welcome users of all abilities
• Multi-functional set up for entertainment-based swimming – such as inflatable obstacle courses, diving boards, pool zip-ins, deck-mounted climbing walls, etc.
• Hot and cold plunge pools that support recovery, reduce inflammation, and boost circulation

By engineering spaces that support everyday use, universities can create aquatic environments that appeal to a broad student population, not just varsity athletes.

Integrating Therapy Pools for Rehabilitation and Academic Programs

An increasing number of colleges are incorporating therapy, warm-water, or cold-water pools into their aquatic facilities. These specialized environments support:

• Athletic training and injury rehabilitation
• Physical therapy, kinesiology, and health sciences programs
• Adaptive aquatics and inclusive recreation
• Aging populations and community wellness initiatives

Therapy pools require specialized aquatic engineering expertise, including precise temperature control, advanced filtration systems, ramp or lift access, and careful coordination with building mechanical systems. Ramaker’s experience in aquatic engineering ensures these pools are seamlessly integrated into the overall natatorium design while meeting performance, safety, and operational requirements.

Designing University Natatoriums for Community Use

University aquatic facilities often serve a dual purpose as both campus amenities and community resources. Shared-use natatoriums may host swim lessons, community lap swim, adaptive programs, or regional competitions—strengthening relationships between the school and the broader community, expanding the facility’s impact.

Ramaker’s aquatic engineering approach considers community use from the outset, addressing:

• Clear circulation strategies that separate public and student access
• Pool layout and pool set-up options to distinguish between competitive swimming, casual swimming, or entertainment-based swimming programs.
• Locker rooms and support spaces sized for diverse user groups
• Mechanical and filtration systems engineered for variable occupancy and extended hours
• Long-term durability and maintenance considerations

This proactive planning allows universities to safely and efficiently accommodate community programming without compromising the student experience.

A Holistic Aquatic Engineering Approach

Successful collegiate natatoriums rely on more than pool design alone. Ramaker provides integrated aquatic engineering services that account for the complex building systems unique to natatorium environments, including:

• Structural engineering to support pool loads and long spans
• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems optimized for long-term reliability and ease of operation
• Energy-efficient solutions that reduce operational costs over the facility’s lifecycle
• Coordination with architectural design to ensure flexibility and future adaptability
• Evaluation and master planning services to help prioritize improvements and plan for future upgrades

By viewing natatoriums as interconnected systems, Ramaker delivers aquatic engineering solutions that support performance, sustainability, and longevity.

As colleges and universities compete to attract and retain students, high-quality aquatic facilities have become essential components of campus life. Natatoriums that balance competition, recreation, therapy, and community use represent a strategic investment in student success and institutional resilience.

With Ramaker as an aquatic engineering partner, universities gain a team that understands the technical demands of aquatic facilities and the broader mission of higher education, creating natatoriums that serve campuses and communities well into the future.

Ready to Plan Your Next Aquatic Facility?

Whether you are expanding an existing competition pool, planning a new campus recreation center, or exploring the addition of therapy and community-use aquatic spaces, Ramaker’s aquatic engineering team can help guide your project from concept through completion.

Connect with Ramaker to discuss how our aquatic engineering expertise can support your university’s goals and create a natatorium designed for performance, wellness, and long-term value.