|
In 2004 a group of parents associated with the North Country Aquatic Club (NCAC) began discussing the need for additional space for swim teams to train and compete. The increased popularity of competitive swimming in the area and the constraints on existing pool availability were making it difficult to accommodate the growing demand. The group assessed what it would take to develop an aquatic center that would not only support the needs of competitive swimming, but would also be a place where other water-based programs could be offered.
As discussions and research continued, an anonymous
donor stepped forward to make an extremely generous and significant lead donation that would serve to catapult the project forward. The donor stipulated that the center support competitive swimming and be accessible to all members of the Upper Valley community.
With the lead donation and challenge of the donor in hand, the group established the non-profit Sports Venue Foundation to assess the feasibility of the project,
develop a plan for the center, and ultimately oversee
the construction and operation of the center.
Shortly thereafter Councilman - Hunsaker (St. Louis,
Missouri), a leading aquatic consulting, design, and
operations company, was hired to conduct a feasibility study to assess whether or not the area could support
the center, as well as its potential design and
programming. After reviewing the results of this
assessment, it was determined that the Upper Valley could support and would benefit from the development
of the aquatic center.
Using recommendations obtained from Councilman - Hunsaker, the Sports Venue Foundation board outlined a formal plan to develop the center on a piece of land in Hartford, Vermont, that was offered by another local donor. The Town of Hartford quickly and enthusiastically backed the project, eventually establishing a formal
partnership with the Upper Valley Aquatic Center.
The UVAC building was designed by Steve Nelson
from Moser Pilon Nelson Architects LLC (Wethersfield,
Connecticut). Steve has worked on a number of other aquatic and athletic facilities and successfully developed a design that fits beautifully on the site and will provide people of all ages with a facility that is easily accessible and fun to be in. Construction of the center was managed by Engelberth Construction Inc. (Colchester, Vermont), who has worked on many premier construction projects in the Upper Valley and surrounding region.
|
