HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2010-08-09 Aquatic Center award
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Richard Williams
Director of Parks & Recreation
rwilliams@leesburgva.gov
703-737-7140
Leesburg’s A.V. Symington Aquatic Center Featured in
Aquatics International’s “2010 Dream Designs Showcase”
Leesburg, VA (August 9, 2010) – The A.V. Symington Aquatic Center, located in Leesburg’s Ida
Lee Park, was recently selected by Aquatics International for inclusion in their annual list of the
most innovative new aquatics facilities in the world.
The A.V. Symington Aquatic Center,
which opened in 2009, is one of four
municipally-owned outdoor
waterparks included in the 2010
Dream Designs Showcase. The
award narrative highlights how the
design takes advantage of the site’s
topography, the variety of activities
provided, the center’s environmental
impact mitigation features, and the
care that was taken to blend the
facility with the other buildings
within Ida Lee Park. For more
information about the award, visit www.aquaticsintl.com/dreamdesigns/2010/symington.html.
The nomination was submitted by Smolen Emr + Associates Architects, the Rockville, MD-based
firm that led the design team, in association with Almy Architects. Dave Almy, the pool
designer, said that a major focus of the design was making the center very family friendly.
“So often, municipal pools are not conducive to young children,” he explained. “In the public
meetings that we held as part of the design process, the citizens specifically requested that this
pool be family-oriented.”
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TOL PR 2010-08-09 Aquatic Center award
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In addition, Almy credited Bill Ference, former Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation, with
doing a “fabulous job” on the landscaping.
“The first thing you notice about the pool is the island in the middle of the lazy river,” Almy
said. “The site had so much rock, but Bill didn’t let it be a detriment. Instead, he took
advantage of the rock in his landscaping plan.”
“We are thrilled for the A.V. Symington Aquatic Center to be recognized on an international
level,” said Rich Williams, Leesburg’s Director of Parks & Recreation. “The design team worked
hand-in-hand with the staff to create a facility that met the community’s expectations by
reflecting what we heard in the numerous public input sessions.”
About Aquatics International: Founded in 1989, Aquatics International is the only publication
devoted exclusively to the commercial and public swimming pool industries. The annual Dream
Designs Showcase, featured in the July/August issue of the magazine, profiles outstanding new
aquatics facilities across a wide range of disciplines. For more information, visit
www.aquaticsintl.com.
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