Riverdale Country School, a premier independent school serving students pre-K through 12th grade, needed a new Aquatic Center to replace its aging existing facility. The program called for a new six-lane competition swimming pool to be located on a compact and steep slope with tight Special Natural Area District regulations on the School’s Hill Campus.

The new Aquatic Center is perched high atop a wooded bluff overlooking Bertino Field, and is comprised of a state-of-the-art competition swimming pool, locker rooms, and spectator viewing areas. All program elements are on one level to provide a fully-accessible facility without the need for an elevator. We designed the lobby and pool spaces to be set behind a tall ribbon of north-facing glass, showcasing the adjacent treetops and reinforcing the building’s connection to the School’s other athletic facilities beyond. In order to conserve space on the site and eliminate roof clutter, we located all outdoor mechanical equipment in an open space below the building.

The Aquatic Center was designed to attain a LEED Silver® rating, helping meet the School's goal to have a sustainable and environmentally conscious campus. Our design works in tandem with our renovation of the existing Marc A. Zambetti Athletic Center holistically revitalizing the school’s athletic facilities and setting up a dialogue between the athletic center, the Aquatic Center, and the adjacent Bertino Field.