This article is the second in a four-part series on Tufts facilities. The third, on the nuts and bolts of facilities maintenance, and the fourth, on Cousens Gym, will run next week.
A lot of things have changed since 1946 - the biology department has incorporated the discovery of the double helix, the USSR has disappeared from history classroom maps, and the basketball programs saw the addition of the three-point line to the college game.
However, Hamilton pool has remained more-or-less in its initial state since opening 60 years ago, when it was used exclusively by the school's two small swim teams. Needless to say, its use has skyrocketed over the years, creating problems for both varsity and recreational swimmers.
"[Hamilton pool] is a very used and overburdened facility," women's swimming coach Nancy Bigelow said. "It's seen its day. I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't recognize that."
The 2005-2006 women's and men's swim teams have a total of 90 members, and with just six narrow lanes available for practices, the teams are forced to break up their workouts, a practice Bigelow feels is detrimental to team unity.
"We have four different practices," the coach said. "It makes it hard because you lose some of the community of the team."
In addition to team needs, the pool must also accommodate numerous recreational swimmers from the Tufts community. As a result, limited open swim hours occur during the week between 7:00 and 8:15 in the morning, during the lunch hour from 11:30 to 1:30, and at night from 7:30 to 10:30. These times, coupled with crowding issues during open hours, place limitations on those who wish to swim for their daily workout.
"The real issue with the pool is how much use it gets," athletic director Bill Gehling said. "It's difficult for it to function correctly as our teams are large and there are many other members of the community that would like access to the pool as well."
"This pool is inadequate for meeting the needs of the entire community at this point," Director of Facilities and Field Management Rick Miller added.
In addition to size constraints, Hamilton Pool has faced numerous filtration and air circulation problems over the years. Since the construction of the Gantcher Center in 1999, located directly adjacent to and built around the pool facility, air quality has worsened to an unhealthy level.
"When the Gantcher Center was built, it closed off outside access to the pool. There used to be windows that helped with the air circulation," Gehling said. "It's not that [these problems] weren't anticipated - they put a system on the roof to circulate air - but it's been a challenge pretty much ever since."
The University recently installed a new MIOX circulation system to improve air quality in and around the pool. However, it will take some time before the system is adjusted and functioning at its full potential. In addition, the boiler that runs the air heating system broke over Winter Break, causing more problems and raising questions as to the effectiveness of the MIOX system.
"What's up there now is a temporary thing," Bigelow said. "It's hard to know if it's working perfectly. The water and air aren't perfect yet and we don't know if the ventilation system will change when they put in the permanent system."
Gehling acknowledged the system's less-than-stellar results, but said that the problem is being addressed.
"We've had some issues with trying to create the best and safest environment," Gehling added. "It's a constant battle to circulate out bad air and circulate in good air, particularly during high-use times in the middle of winter. Although it takes awhile to get up to speed, our hope and belief is that [the MIOX system] will create a much healthier environment. They're tweaking it as we speak."
Tufts' swimmers are among NESCAC's best, but their facility lags far behind their talent. Williams' Carl R. Samuelson and Robert B. Muir Pool opened in 1988 with two moveable bulkheads allowing for a warm-up area and competition pool. It also seats 400 spectators and has its own diving wall.
Middlebury's Olympic-sized pool has 18 lanes (compared to Tufts' six) with four diving boards and room for 1000 people to attend meets. Even Bates, who has just 27 varsity swimmers on both the men's and women's teams combined, has a larger and newer facility than Tufts, with an eight lane pool constructed in 1980.
Though the athletic department is aware of the pool's shortcomings, no concrete plans for a new facility are currently being considered.
"We have had plans for a new pool for many years," Gehling said. "But it's a funding issue. We're in the process of reviewing our long-term facilities plans, with a new pool as a central component, but in the end it will come down to whether or not we can find people to help us fund it."
"Everybody would love to have a new pool," Miller said. "I'm sure the University is looking at it as potential, but there are no dates at this time."
