Here’s the Dirt: Goebel begins aquatics center

Goebel begins aquatics center

Goebel Construction, which built the Spokane Valley YMCA and the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene, has begun work on another major aquatics job.

The Spokane contractor is building a $4 million, 12,700-square-foot natatorium at the Riverview Retirement Community, 1801 East Upriver Dr., in Spokane.

When completed late next spring, the building will feature a spa pool, a therapy pool and a combination lap/resistance pool, project manager Terry Goebel said.

It also will contain an indoor walking track, an exercise room and a meeting room.

The most unique element, Goebel said, is the combo pool. It will have two lanes devoted to lap swimming and two lanes that can operate with a current for a lazy river effect or for resistance walking and swimming. The two sets of lanes will be separated by a wall with openings at either end, allowing swimmers to move easily between the different functions.

“We don’t think that type of pool has ever even been built before, the way we’re doing it,” Goebel said. “We think it’s going to be real popular.”

The idea in part comes from the lazy river at the Kroc Center, which was intended for recreational use but quickly became a popular fitness area, he said.

The Riverview facility will provide seniors living there a place for fitness, therapy and recreation under one roof. All of the pools will have wheelchair ramps.

The walking track will have views to the outside and into the pool enclosure. The entire facility will have an enclosed connection to the care center at Riverview.

NAC|Architecture of Spokane designed the building.