Is that the echo of a champion I hear? Welcome to the Spieker Aquatics Center. This premier aquatics venue is home to UCLA’s water polo, swimming, and diving teams.
The Spieker Aquatics Center was completed in 2009 for $14 million. It is named after Tod and Catherine Spieker. Tod Spieker was a UCLA student-athlete from 1968 to 1971. He competed in swimming.
The Dirks Pool is named after Carolyn Dirks. The teams that use this facility have won 20 NCAA national championships. Men’s swimming and diving won in 1982. The men’s water polo team were champions multiple times. They won in 1969, 1971–72, 1995–96, 1999–2000, 2004, 2014–15 and 2017. The women’s water polo team captured titles in 2001, 2003, 2005–09 and 2024.
This state-of-the-art facility is an ADA accessible. It features a 52-meter all-deep water pool. A bulkhead allows competitions at varying distances. The aquatics center includes diving platforms at 3, 5, 7.5, and 10-meters. There are also one and three-meter spring boards.
Inside the Spieker Aquatics Center, you’ll find locker rooms for men’s and women’s teams. There is permanent seating for 800 spectators. Temporary seating can accommodate an additional 1,700 people. The east side showcases a “Champions Wall”. It highlights the accomplishments of UCLA’s aquatics teams. A LED scoreboard enhances the experience. The video display is almost nine feet high and nearly 16 feet wide.
The Spieker Aquatics Center has hosted notable events. The 2010 MPSF Women’s Water Polo Championship Tournament was held here. In 2011, the AT&T National Diving Championships took place here. 125 divers competed for 10 national titles. They also aimed to represent the United States at the 2011 Pan American Games.
The 2011 MPSF Men’s Water Polo Championship Tournament was held at UCLA. The USA Men’s water polo team held a training game here against Hungary before the 2012 Olympics. The 2015 NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship was held here. UCLA defeated USC for their second consecutive national title. The 2016 and 2021 NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championships were also held at Spieker Aquatics Center.
The distinctive dive tower is visible upon entering. It serves as an icon at the head of the pool. The structure is elegantly expressed in ipe wood and opaque glass. Colored concrete helps to unify the project. The tower creates a dramatic centerpiece. It filters light and casts intricate shadows. During evening events, it acts as an architectural lantern.
Daktronics designed and installed the integrated scoring, timing, and video system. It provides accurate timing of events. It uses Relay Take Off Platforms, touchpads, and OmniSport 2000 consoles. Daktronics also installed pace clocks and horn start systems.
The Spieker Aquatics Center replaced four former tennis courts. It reuses the existing spectator bleachers. The design links the aquatics center to the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. It connects additional tennis courts and adjacent parking.
As you leave the Spieker Aquatics Center, remember the echoes of champions. Remember the dedication and the spirit of aquatics excellence. This is a place where athletes strive for greatness.