Boys and Girls Club, Dorchester, MA

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, Boys Girls Club of Boston 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 Boys and Girls Club of Boston 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.


Like this? Please share it.
Boys and Girls Club of Boston

Project Photos

Let us know how we can help you achieve your vision of letting the sky in!

Start A New Project
Request Service
General Inquiry
Tell us about your project.
Let us know how we can help. 

Step 1 of 2

How can we help you?

Speak with an OpenAire design expert

Contact us today to get the conversation started.
cross