High Standards in High Water
A Texas high school pool-replacement project stands as a compelling example of overcoming challenging site conditions. Working methodically in high groundwater, the project team expertly created a new aquatic facility that will serve the school and community for decades to come.   ...
Stone Reimagined
The use of stone in and around pools, spas, and other bodies of water has a long and rocky history, points out Mike Farley. It’s also one of those design elements that moves in and out of fashion with surprising regularity. ...
Seeds of Purpose
At age 29, Marcus Hampton has been running his own custom home and watershaping design and build firm for eight years. And, as he explains in this discussion about the industry’s new generation of aspiring professionals, in many ways, he and his contemporaries are just getting started. ...
Creating Hoover Dam
Few structures in American history embody the scale of ambition, engineering prowess, and transformative impact as Hoover Dam. Rising from Black Canyon on the Colorado River, southeast of Las Vegas, its massive concrete arc, once the tallest and heaviest dam in the world, stands as both a monumental physical achievement and a symbol of the nation's ability to turn bold ideas into lasting progress. ...
Rolling with the Changes
Pool service tech, Robert Foutz Jr., takes a look back over his 40 years in the service side of the pool industry, with an eye toward some of the many changes he has seen along the way—as well as some of the new things he had to learn in order to adapt. ...
Managing an Attractive Nuisance
When a construction site is left unsecured, it can become a serious hazard, says veteran expert witness, Scott Cohen. The danger isn’t hypothetical. It’s real, potentially fatal, but also, thankfully, preventable. The key is always keeping in mind that clients, and especially kids, don’t always appreciate the hazards of a working construction site. ...
From Asphalt to Activation
Urban parks are increasingly being asked to do more than provide green space. They’re expected to restore ecology, reflect local culture, invite participation, and serve as social condensers for entire communities. Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington, KY, is a strong example of how water—when thoughtfully designed and carefully engineered—can do all of that at once. ...
Off-Season Resets
Winters in the Hamptons on Long Island, NY, are cold, long and for pool service businesses, also quiet and even lonely. As summer residents vacate for ski slopes or warmer climes, Julie Kazdin reports that winters at her company are focused on rest, retooling, and renewal, all essential in preparing for the busy season ahead. ...
Not Waiting for Spring
Aaron King believes in overcoming obstacles, as he explains in this look at solving winter pool-renovation challenges using controlled work spaces and reinforced PVC membranes. It's an approach, he says, fits neatly with his company's tradition of seeking innovative construction solutions. ...
Snowing on Demand
The ability to make snow on demand effectively transforms the winter-recreation industry in areas where snowfall is scarce, inconsistent or even non-existent. Simple in concept, spraying atomized water under the right conditions can transform a barren slope into a skier's paradise. ...