Sandusky Aquatic Center's future unclear

SANDUSKY — The Sandusky Aquatic Center project slammed into a major roadblock. No construction companies showed interest in working on the project by last week's deadline, Sandusky Schools told the Register Wednesday afternoon. "Unfortunately, on Monday, May 8, the Aquatics Center core team learned that no bids were submitted by contractors," spokeswoman Kerstyn Pou said. Costs have increased, too. "At the bidding phase, our team learned that the projected costs increased by 30%," Pou said. "As the project moved through various phases: schematic design, design development and bidding, the Aquatics Center team reviewed the costs of the project attempting to keep them within budget and reasonable operating costs." Pou continued: "Sandusky City Schools' administration, board members, architects and community members are reviewing options to move the project forward while maintaining the goals to be fiscally responsible and good stewards of community assets. Alternative solutions will be presented to the community as soon as possible." Anyone with questions about the Sandusky Aquatic Center can send them to sanduskyaquaticcenter@scs-k12.net. Design changes In January, Sandusky board members approved updates to Sandusky Aquatic Center's design created by ThenDesign Architecture, an educational design firm based in Willoughby, near Cleveland. With the latest planned updates, only one pool will now be constructed. Pou said in November 2022, project architects from ThenDesign Architecture told Sandusky Schools about "anticipated increases to construction costs." "The district then asked TDA to revise the facility design to include efficient use of space and resources while continuing to meet the three primary goals of the Aquatic Center: teach Sandusky youth how to swim; offer community access for swimmers of all ages; and to support the district's extracurricular swim teams and clubs," Pou said. "The updated design features (approved by board members this month) a new eight-lane, stainless steel Myrtha competition pool, including a pool ramp, removable equipment; and other accommodations to meet the needs of young children, elderly residents and those with special needs. "The plan to restore the current 65-year-old pool was determined to be too costly," Pou said. Instead, the space will "be renovated to include a large multi-purpose room for various student and community activities" like "youth wrestling, competition cheer practice, and community yoga classes." "With this updated design, the Sandusky Aquatic Center will feature 285 spectator seats, newly designated team bleachers, new family restrooms, a new entrance, lobby, offices and storage space," Pou said. "The existing swim team locker rooms will also be renovated and remain in use." Sandusky Aquatic Center will still be built behind Sandusky High School near the athletic entrance, but about 65 current parking spaces will be taken away. In January, construction was expected to begin in June 2023 and be completed by December 2024. Pou also said, in January, that the Sandusky Education Foundation, a nonprofit handling the project's fundraising campaign, had raised 98% of its $9.5 million goal for construction costs, an endowment fund for long-term pool maintenance and replacement; and community programs. In June 2022, the estimated cost for the project was $11 million, an increase from the original $7 million price tag given years ago. The planning process In recent years, Sandusky Schools hired ThenDesign Architecture and Water Technology, Inc., an aquatics design firm based in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. ThenDesign architects Ryan Schmit and Claire Bank along with Water Technology engineer Steve Crocker were selected to lead the design process for the new facility, district officials said. Sandusky alumni started the pool project in 2017 because the current pool at Sandusky High School is more than 60 years old and disintegrating. Back then, the group of former swimmers hired Wallover Architects, from Pennsylvania, for the preliminary design and budget work. The Sandusky Education Foundation took up the project's financial components. Plans to build a pool facility for district and community use halted due to the pandemic, but restarted within the past year. Erie County nonprofit foundations like the Wightman-Wieber Foundation, Dorn Foundation, local businesses and individual donors have pledged financial support and now have given most of the project's needed funds. The project also snagged $2 million from Sandusky Schools meant for repairing the current pool. Anyone interested in donating to the Sandusky Aquatic Center should visit sanduskyef.org or feel free to email bhanck@sanduskyef.org, for more information on the ways one may contribute. _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood