Can you believe this innovative building was almost an Olympic venue? The Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center stands before us. It is more than just a pool. This 110000-square-foot facility is a testament to New York City’s commitment to recreation.
The Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center is also known as the Flushing Meadows Natatorium. It is a true recreation complex. It has an Olympic-sized pool and an NHL-standard ice rink.
Completed in 2008 this 66.3 million dollar project was the first indoor public pool to open in New York City in four decades. Initially it was meant for water polo events at the 2012 Summer Olympics. London won the bid instead. New York City built the pool anyway.
Look up at those twin masts. They soar 130 feet high. These masts are not just for show. They are structural supports for the cable-stayed roof. This design allows for clear spans. It is necessary to house both the pool and the ice rink.
Handel Architects designed the Flushing Meadows Natatorium. They worked with Kevin Hom Architects. The architects drew inspiration from the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fair pavilions. These pavilions once occupied this very site. The canopy roof is suspended above the natatorium and rink. This design echoes the spirit of those expositions. The World’s Fair showcased cultural exhibitions from around the world.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Borough President Claire Shulman envisioned this center. They wanted to revive Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The original plan was for a moderately sized pool. The idea grew into an Olympic-size pool with an indoor ice rink.
Construction started in 2001. The September 11 attacks caused funding issues. The project halted. The Natatorium became the swimming arena for New York City’s 2012 Summer Olympics bid in 2003.
The Parks Department partnered with the Economic Development Corporation. Plans restarted to build the city’s first public indoor swimming pool in 40 years. The Flushing Meadows Corona Park Natatorium and Ice Rink opened in February 2008. It was the largest recreation complex ever built in a city park. By 2020 the facility accommodated 350000 annual visitors. It was renamed the Flushing Meadows Corona Park Aquatics Center.
The Flushing Meadows Natatorium is along the park’s northeast perimeter. It is between the Van Wyck Expressway and the park greenery. The building sits between the urban environment and the park.
Entrances on the east and west sides follow a radial geometry. This design refers to the historic Fountain of the Planets exhibition. A plaza is at the eastern entrance. It extends from three paths that circulate to the park spaces. Another entrance opens onto a path on the western façade. This path leads to soccer fields the golf center and the Unisphere.
The programmatic requirements shaped decisions about structure and materials. Geiger Engineers designed the structural system and cable-stayed roof. They needed a clear span. This would limit chlorine from damaging building materials. The pool and rink serve as counterweights of a seesaw. The two 130-foot masts are the linchpins. Twelve cables extend from each mast to the roof. Concrete planks keep the roof from lifting.
Visual interventions allow interaction between patrons and the outer environment. Expansive windows are in the pool area. A spiraling staircase has windows opening into the park. Multi-colored glass tiles glimmer like water along the building’s facade. These apertures cast varying shadows on the interior.
From the lobby to the pool level users circulate in a spiral path. The rectangular pavilion holds the pool and the ice rink end to end. The curtain wall wraps around the western façade. Swimmers engage with the natural environment. The Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center stands as a beacon of recreation and architectural innovation. It is a testament to New York City’s vision.