Project Description
UC Berkeley’s Legends Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art facility providing training space for intercollegiate athletes. The design establishes a connection with Cal’s athletics precinct and serves as a catalyst for energizing both the aquatics program and the southwestern edge of campus. The building’s simple mass, a rectangular box, was constructed out of solid stack bond concrete masonry layered with a perforated metal skin. Colored, translucent glass, which provides natural light while maintaining privacy, weaves in and out of the box, connecting the north and south sides of the building. Louvered transparent glass walls located on the south side provide a visual connection to the pool deck and dive tower area. On the west side, a large glass wall opens onto a patio area. The metal skin cantilevers past the glass to provide shade, while adding dynamics to the building mass as it juts towards downtown Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay