From concept to completion, Aquatic Design Group provided design and engineering services for a versatile movable-floor pool that meets the challenge of serving beginners and elite athletes alike within Lawrenceville’s transformative new campus center.

SERVICES PROVIDED

 

THE CHALLENGE

The Lawrenceville School, a prestigious private boarding school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, envisioned an ambitious reimagining of campus life: a place where athletics, wellness, and dining would merge into an integrated hub of community and connection. Central to this vision was an aquatic facility capable of meeting the diverse needs of a large student body—supporting competitive swimming, water polo, and instructional programming—all while respecting the historic scale and character of the surrounding campus.

Creating a facility that could deliver elite-level performance while maintaining an approachable, inclusive environment within a beloved campus posed a unique challenge. The design needed to integrate seamlessly into the sloping site topography and preserve visual harmony with nearby student residences and the cherished original field house.

 

The Solution

Aquatic Design Group partnered with Sasaki and the rest of the project team to deliver a solution that was as innovative as it was adaptable. From conceptual design through engineering and construction administration, the pool was meticulously planned: a 10-lane, 25-yard deep gutter swimming pool equipped with a movable floor—a highly specialized feature that enables the water depth to be adjusted in real-time. This flexibility allows the pool to transition effortlessly between competitive meets, shallow instructional classes, and accessible programming for all users.

Strategically recessed into the site’s natural grade, the aquatic venue sits partially below ground, reducing the perceived bulk of the building while creating an elevated interior experience. Overhead, sculpted ceilings and clerestory windows deliver abundant natural light and a sense of spaciousness. Circulation paths and sightlines connect the aquatics venue to adjacent amenities, including an ice rink, gymnasium, squash courts, fitness studios, and a two-level dining hall, all designed to foster campus community.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Bittermann

 

The Results

Completed in the Spring of 2024, the Tsai Dining and Athletics Facility has already become a daily destination and a cornerstone of student life at The Lawrenceville School. The aquatic center now supports a robust calendar of competitions, practices, and instructional programs, all while offering the adaptability needed to serve students of every skill level.

The movable floor provides unparalleled versatility, allowing staff to fine-tune the pool’s configuration to support everything from youth swim lessons to water polo and elite swim training. As part of a larger campus transformation, the project sets a new benchmark for how educational institutions can unite recreation, wellness, and community in one thoughtfully designed environment.

 

AWARDS

2025 Architectural Showcase, Athletic Business Magazine

2025 Award of Merit, Philadelphia Section Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Philament Awards for outstanding lighting design

2020 Architect’s Newspaper Unbuilt - Education Honorable Mention

 
 

project data

Owner: The Lawrenceville School

Client: Sasaki

Structures: LeMessurier

Civil: The Reynolds Group

Contractor: Higley Construction

Date Completed: May 2024

Budget: $91,000,000

Approx. Square Footage: 263,000 SF