Aquatic Development Group
MIDWEST HEALTH AQUATIC CENTER Topeka, Kan.
Architect: Slemmons Associates
Aquatic Designer: Counsilman-Hunsaker
General Contractor: B.A. Green Construction
Pool/Spa/Waterfeature Contractor:
The Pool Company
MEP Engineering: Bartlett & West
FANNING OUT
SUPPLIER INFORMATION
Chemical feeders: Pulsafeeder
Chemical storage: Chemtainer
Circulation systems/gutters: Pentair
Controller: Chemtrol
Filtration: Neptune-Benson
Guard chairs: Tailwind Furniture
Interactive waterfeatures: Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl.; AquaClimb
Pool cleaner: Aqua Products; Recreonics
Pumps: Grundfos
Racing lanes: Competitor
Safety equipment: Recreonics
Slides: Avalanche Water Slides
Springboards: Duraflex
Wave machine: Aquatic Development Group
In addition to serving as many as possible, the facility owner wanted to boast a completely unique feature. So the design team created the first pool in the U.S. to use Aquatic Development Group’s TwinTides WaveTek system, which generates waves in two directions.
The bow-tie shape provided the ideal way to present back-to-back wave pools — with the beach entries fanning out so waves can organically diffuse. It also proved ideal for the site. The plot had significant grade changes, and the team couldn’t build the wave pool on two elevation levels. Designers didn’t want to flatten the rise, either.
The long, narrow bow tie could fit in the space allotted on a single elevation. Measuring 206 feet long and graduating in width from 30 to 80 feet, it was a departure from the normal wide and short wave pool. At its deepest point, in the center, visitors can stand in 4½ feet of water.
The park also features a rectangular pool with lap lanes, racer slide, speed slide, open flume slides, zip line, 3-meter dive stand and climbing wall. On the other side of the wave pool, a network of circles houses a vortex pool, zero-depth area with interactive play structure and a shallow sport pool.