The Plunge at FIT – Belmont Park
San Diego, CA

The Plunge at FIT, San Diego: Located in Belmont Park, this historic San Diego swimming pool has operated since 1925, but needed to be closed in 2015 for renovations and repairs due to deterioration from moisture and pool chemicals.

Built as the centrepiece of San Diego’s retractable roof atBelmont Park located on Mission Beach, the Plunge Natatorium has undergone a complete transformation with an OpenAire retractable roof enclosure.  What was described as a closed in dark and dank environment is now literally open and airy thanks to the OpenAire’s all glazed 29,000 square foot state of the art retractable roof enclosure.

The new curved glazed roof enclosure measures 104’ x 204’ in length with floor to roof glass sidewalls over 39’ high providing a sunlit paradise as an extension of this popular beach.  Opening the 10 large retractable roof panels in conjunction with the two glass overhead doors and motorized pivot windows allows cool ocean breezes to flow right through the building, yet provide indoor comfort with the push of a button should the ocean become angry with inclement weather.

As part of the adjacent FIT Athletic Club, the enclosure features a brand-new, 25-foot-wide two-story mezzanine along its 204-foot length, which provides a pleasant place for swimmers and non-swimmers alike to workout or relax while overlooking the pool in one direction and taking in stunning ocean views in the other .

Built as a public private partnership between leaseholder Pacifica, The Fit Athletic Club and the City of San Diego what started as a $1.2 million repair effort evolved into a $12 million construction project. The new enclosure connects seamlessly with the new FIT Athletic Club attached at one end of the enclosure with viewing areas directly into swimming pool and users enjoy easy access between the two facilities.