Mobile County Commission Awards Contract For Aquatic Center

The Mobile County Commission recently awarded a $23.1-million contract to construct the new Mobile County Aquatic Center. Designed by Williams Blackstock Architects and awarded to Persons Services Corp., construction is expected to begin in September, with completion anticipated in approximately 12 to 18 months. The center will be developed in phases. The 40,000-ft² facility’s Phase I will feature an outdoor 25-yard by 50-meter competition pool with two dive wells, a check-in/concessions building, an indoor warm-up/instructional pool, locker rooms, restrooms and 176 parking spaces. Phase II plans include an indoor 25-yard by 25-meter competition pool, spectator seating for 645, a lobby, offices and additional concessions. The center will offer a range of programs including swimming and diving practice, competitive opportunities for high school, youth and masters swim clubs and teams, recreational swimming, aquatic exercise, various instructional programs and underwater, remotely operated vehicle practice and competitions for robotics teams. Local first responders, including the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, police and fire departments, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard, will also utilize the facility for in-water training. Funding for Phase I comes from various sources, with more than $19 million from Mobile County capital improvement funds, commission district funds and federal grants, with an additional $3.5 million in contributions from the City of Mobile and the Mobile County Public School System. The Mobile County Aquatic Center will be built within the roughly 200-acre Mobile County Sportsplex at 3701 Halls Mill Road, near the intersection of I-10 and I-65.