The Dennis L Shippey Aquatic Center

Below you will find the description of the new Aquatic Center .....

The Dennis Shippey Aquatic Center

at Veterans Memorial Stadium

Pasadena Independent School District

Pasadena, Texas

The Dennis Shippey Aquatic Center is a new building designed by cre8 Architects to be located at the existing Pasadena ISD Veterans Memorial Sports Complex site in Pasadena, Texas.  The 24,000 sffacility will serve as the competition swimming and diving pool for the District’s aquatic athletics department.  The 37-meter pool will allow the District to host both high school level swimming and diving competitions simultaneously.

cre8’s design of the aquatic center incorporates large, glass overhead sectional doors, which are similar to garage-door-type doors, on the north and south elevations of the building to allow the facility to be opened to the adjacent grassy yards on each side to accommodate the public and the athletes. Riser seating is also provided on the interior for spectators.

cre8’s team designed the building to take advantage of the geographical position of the site by orientingits long sides facing North and South to maximize daylight and reduce heat gain.  The orientation of the building also allows for the southeastern winds from the Gulf Coast to flow through the opened overhead doors thereby providing natural ventilation of the pool area. This is accomplished by a “chimney effect”that allows for the hot air to rise and exit through the louvers on the roof cupola, while side operable louvers and glass overhead sectional doors allow for air to come in and create cross ventilation.

cre8’s team chose materials for the aquatic center to complement the existing buildings at the Veterans Memorial Complex site, and in consideration of the corrosive nature of an aquatic facility.  An exposed,glued-laminated structure system is used for its timeless aesthetic expression as well as structural support of the building.  The building is clad with decorative concrete masonry units that have a stone-like quality.  All of the interior walls are epoxy painted concrete masonry units which prohibits the growth of mold due to the nature of the facility,

The Dennis Shippey Aquatic Center also has support areas including a main lobby area, public restrooms, a weight room, and dressing rooms with showers.

Contacts:

cre8 Architects

Bayardo Selva, AIA, LEED-AP, CDT​​bayardo.selva@cre8houston.com​

Roger Brownlow, AIA, CCS​​​roger.brownlow@cre8houston.com

3815 Montrose Boulevard, Suite 123, Houston, Texas 77006

713.526.2738

www.cre8houston.com