The Aquatic and Fitness Center will be closed for the installation of a new ventilation system this summer. Photo courtesy Panoramio.com
The Aquatic and Fitness Center on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus will be closing over the summer to replace the facility’s ventilation, said Connie Benson, director of recreation.
“[The heating and air-conditioning units] are past their lifespan so they aren’t working efficiently and they need to be replaced,” Benson said.
Since they were installed in 1997 when the Aquatic and Fitness Center was built, the units have been exposed to pool chemicals and the elements.
The HVAC system is critical to maintaining indoor temperatures and humidity levels, especially in the recreational and competition pool areas. The new system will regulate temperatures and humidity better than the old and will make both pool environments cooler than before, Benson said.
Also part of the improvements will be the installation of a timer on the spa in the recreational pool area, so the spa is not constantly releasing heat into the air and users can control the jets themselves.
“The spa is shooting out bubbles with its water temperature at 104 degrees, so [the air temperature] is an issue you’ve got to deal with when you’ve got that kind of heat coming into the pool area,” Benson said.
Additionally, a new fire sprinkler system and a new vent will be installed. The new vent will draw hot air out and improve circulation in the pool areas, contributing to cooler and more comfortable pool environments.
With the Aquatic and Fitness Center closing for the summer, students, faculty and staff will have to use the Recreation and Athletic Complex instead. Students living on campus over the summer are both thrilled and aggravated by the change.
“I feel that the improvements at the AFC will be inconvenient for me over the summer because I will be living in Liberty Square and I will not be able to use it,” said Colleen Zimmerman, freshman business management major.
The planning process began in September 2010, and the total cost of the HVAC system replacement will be $2.5 million. Members of the Mason community who began membership to the fitness facilities before May 23 and go until August 15 will have their memberships extended for 90 more days, according to an open letter from assistant director of recreation Nathan Dougan.
The Aquatic and Fitness Center will be closing May 23 until August 16 to allow time for the new HVAC system to be installed without delays.
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