Groundbreaking Ceremony for Aquatic Center Makes A Splash!

Over 200 swimming enthusiasts turned out this afternoon for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

Scheduled to open in the summer of 2011, the 74,000-square-foot indoor Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) will be a state-of-the-art facility featuring leading edge concepts in aquatic design. The GAC will be located on the campus of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, adjacent to the Complex’s Special Events Center and the future Atlantic Coast Conference Hall of Champions.

The GAC will bring together all major aquatic sports – competitive swimming and diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and other unique sports all in one venue. The GAC will offer Greensboro the opportunity to host high school and collegiate events, USA Swimming meets, Master's swimming and U.S. Water Polo events as well as a myriad of local, regional, national and international competitions.

In light of the intense demand for this type of facility, the GAC is expected to operate 15 hours a day. In addition, this multi-purpose facility will also serve local citizens through its diverse programming, including therapeutic rehabilitation and “Learn to Swim” classes in conjunction with the Guilford County School system and other instructional organizations.

Three bodies of water are included in this innovative aquatic complex; a 50-meter stretch competition pool, a warm-up/teaching pool and a diving vessel. The combined water surface area of these pools is 17,895 square feet or approximately 1.5 million gallons of water. Seating capacity for spectators is 2,500.

Want to see how construction of the Greensboro Aquatic Center is going?

Then click this link for a LIVE look!