Richmond Municipal Natatorium “the Plunge”
PROJECT LOCATION:
Location
SCOPE:
Restoration and renovation of historic pool building
KEY FEATURES:
3,600sf of solar thermal panels
30kw solar electric system
150 operable windows
Restoration of demolished historical features
Employed over 10 artisans
The renovated Richmond Natatorium or "the Plunge" is among the greenest and healthiest pools in the U.S. The renovated pool reopened to a great deal of press and local fanfare in 2010 after being closed almost 10 years due to years of neglect and failure of its exterior walls. In addition to repairs and upgrades, Todd Jersey Architecture brought back many original features of the building that had been lost to history. Energy conservation methods reduce the electrical and gas load over a conventional municipal pool by about 50%. Solar energy production generates about half the energy needs. The combination of conservation and production lead to about 60-70% reduction in energy costs, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars per year at today's energy costs.
