In late 2019, AKVO Spiralift® completed two major multifunctional pool projects in Germany in quick succession. These projects were accomplished in partnership with Bodan Schwimmbadbau, a former German ship builder established in 1919 whom has since expanded business into the construction of stainless steel swimming pools. Equipped with a series of compact yet powerful lifts beneath the pool floor – the AKVO Spiralift system – these facilities now have the ability to adjust the water depth of their pools… in about 10 minutes at the touch of a button!
The German cities of Munich and Kevelaer both opted for such flexibility as a strategy to increase their pools’ attendance figures by offering a wider range of aquatic activities. By altering the water depth of their pool via automatic and reliable transformations, the facility in Munich can now meet FINA’s rules and requirements for various aquatic events. In addition, the pools in both cities can be adapted to meet the needs of health, wellness and recreational programs and secure areas for beginner-level swimmers, children or seniors.
A flexible sports-focused 50-metre pool in Munich
Originally built in 1972 to host the Summer Games, the Munich Olympia-Schwimmhalle is the historic site where legendary swimmer Mark Spitz set an Olympic record by winning seven gold medals, all of them in world-record time. In operation since then as a public facility, the Schwimmhalle underwent a three-year rehabilitation that was completed this past fall. The centrepiece, the Olympic-sized swimming pool (50 m), was fitted with a 21 m (69 ft) by 17 m (56 ft) AKVO movable floor equipped with an anti-intrusion ramp for safety. Depending on the event, the pool can achieve any depth between 2.5 m (8 ft) and 0.3m (1 ft) allowing organizers to fulfill the requirements of any training event or competition.
Transformable Olympic Pool, Munich
• Area: 357 sq. m (3,843 sq. ft)
• Usable water depth: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
• MFP length: 21 m (69 ft)
• MFP width: 17m (56 ft)
• MFP travel speed: 300 mm/min (12 in/min)
• Finish: Stainless steel decking
• Number and type of lifts: 12 x IL150 Spiralift units
• Structure: stainless-steel structure designed and built by Bodan
A multipurpose pool to support youth physical education in Kevelaer
Since the end of 2019, the Kardinal-von-Galen-Gymnasium public high school of Kevelaer, a town located in North Rhine-Westphalia, has been enjoying their 100 sq. m (1,080 sq. ft) stainless steel multipurpose pool. Thanks to their AKVO movable floor, the maximum water depth of 1.5 m (5 ft) can be automatically reduced to any desired depth, providing the best conditions for various types of water sports, swimming lessons and training geared towards young people. In fact, this pool was specifically designed for aquatic therapy programs which benefit community members with disabilities.
Kardinal-von-Galen-Gymnasium transformable pool, Kevelaer
• Engineering office: Fuhrmann and Keuthen
• Architectural firm: Michael van Ooyen
• Area: 100 sq. m (1,080 sq. ft)
• Usable water depth: 1.5 m (5 ft)
• MFP length: 12.5 m (41 ft)
• MFP width: 8 m (26 ft)
• MFP travel speed: 300 mm/min (12 in/min)
• Finish: Stainless steel decking
• Number and type of lifts: 7x IL150 Spiralift units
• Structure: stainless-steel structure designed and built by Bodan
Public Movable Pool Floor Benefits
* Water depth on demand – expands the scope of aquatic activities
* Space-saving – multiple water depths allow the pool to meet the requirements of all athletic competitions within the same surface area
* Superior design – Spiralift mechanical devices ensure high floor rigidity, as opposed to cables that can cause floating floors to bounce
* Heightened safety – movable floors can be used to close pools completely when not in use.
