Luther College plans $8 million aquatic center

DECORAH -- Luther College has released initial plans for an $8 million aquatic center project that is part of the college's "Transformed by the Journey" Sesquicentennial Fund, a five-year, $50-million funding initiative that will take Luther into its 150th anniversary celebration in 2011-12.

The proposed site for the 31,500-square-foot facility is the on the northeast corner of the Regents Center on Luther's lower campus. The building addition will feature an eight-lane, eighth-foot depth, 30-meter competition pool, a 14-foot depth diving competition pool, state-of-the-art timing equipment, larger deck and diving spaces for competing teams, and seating for 300-plus spectators.

Luther plans to finance construction of the new aquatic facility with $4 million in donations and about $4 million through bond financing.

Luther officials said the new aquatic facility will be available for Decorah High School swim team practices and meets, swimming lessons and recreational use for the community as in the past. Construction of an expanded locker room for community and guest usage will depend on the amount of funds that can be raised locally.

The college's decision to fund and construct the aquatic facility on its campus concludes several years of conversations among city, public school and college leaders to jointly build an aquatic center that would be operated cooperatively to serve the needs of the college, school district and city, officials said. Keith Christensen, Luther vice president for development, said it became apparent to Luther officials the timing is not right for a joint project.

"Each entity has its own financial needs and priorities," Christensen said in a statement. "This was not the time for the direct partnership, so it became incumbent upon the college to proceed with the planning, funding and eventual construction on our own."

In addition to the needs of the college's intercollegiate swimming program, Luther will use the new facility for wellness programs for students, faculty and staff.