THE CHALLENGE:

With the goal of providing the best possible after-school facilities for at-risk youth, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB) recently undertook the renovation and expansion of its Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Club in Dorchester. A major aspect of the project was updating the pool with an added enclosure to create a year-round aquatics program. Following more than two years of research on pool enclosure concepts and builders, BGCB selected OpenAire Inc. for its ability to provide turn-key design, high quality, energy efficient, all aluminum thermally broken frame construction, as well as a five-year parts and labor warranty.

Before choosing OpenAire, BGBC invited an independent company to assess the energy consumption of the OpenAire enclosure as compared to a traditional brick and mortar type of building using the same typical pool and space loads. The analysis showed a 31% annual savings in electricity and an overall 27% savings in annual energy consumption, with a net total utilities cost savings of over $9,000 a year. What a commendable way to provide upgraded facilities and reduce their carbon-foot print – a true GREEN building in the Boston community!

THE SOLUTION:

The structure, with its sparkling pool, spray-grounds, and spectators’ area for swim meets, provides Club members from age 6 to 18 and other community youth with a first-class aquatics experience. The 60’ x 100’ freestanding building features a maintenance-free, all-aluminum, thermally-broken frame to withstand the aquatic atmosphere. Opening the sliding doors in the sidewalls and pushing a button to open the roof makes it a virtual outdoor facility during the summer months. Closing the roof and doors during inclement weather and cold winter months guarantees uninterrupted, revenue producing, aquatic programs and just a lot of fun for boys and girls. During the winter months the enclosure provides a cozy, sun-drenched oasis, for the fun to continue in the middle of a snowy Boston landscape.