View source for Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center

{{short description|Aquatic facility in Federal Way, Washington}}
{{Infobox swimming venue
|name          = Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center
|logo          =
|logosize      =
|logocaption   =
|image         = File:King County Aquatic Center competition natatorium - 23 November 2022.jpg
|imagesize     =
|caption       = Competition natatorium in November 2022
|fullname      =
|nicknames     =
|city          = [[Federal Way, Washington]], United States
|capacity      = 2,500<ref name=kc>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/activities/aquatics.aspx|title=Weyerhauser King County Aquatic Center|publisher=King County|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>
|built         = 1990
|opened        = April 18, 1990<ref name=fwm/>
|construction cost = $18.8 million USD<ref>[http://www.usadiver.com/diving_meets/2000_olympic_trials.htm US Olympic Trials, June 20-25 2000]</ref>
|architects    =
|home clubs    =
|poolname      =
|length        = 50 meters
|width         = 25 yards
|deep          =
|lanes         = 8
|}}
The '''Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center''' is an aquatic facility in [[Federal Way, Washington|Federal Way]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] constructed for the [[1990 Goodwill Games]].
It has hosted [[United States Olympic Trials (diving)|US Olympic Diving Team Trials]] in 2000 and [[2012 United States Olympic Trials (diving)|2012]],<ref name="fwm">{{cite web|url=http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/92518999.html|title=King County Aquatic Center strengthens Federal Way's economy and profile|author=Jacinda Howards|publisher=Federal Way Mirror|date=April 30, 2010|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] championships, [[Pac-12 Conference|PAC-12 conference]] championships, [[USA Swimming]] Winter National championships and [[Speedo]] Junior National championships.<ref name="fwm" /> Over 200 world records have been set at the center.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/king-county-aquatic-center-strengthens-federal-ways-economy-and-profile/|title=King County Aquatic Center strengthens Federal Way's economy and profile {{!}} Federal Way Mirror|date=April 30, 2010|work=Federal Way Mirror|access-date=July 22, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
The center is open to the public for open swim, pool exercise, family swim, lessons and lap swim.<ref name=":2" />
== History ==
On April 18, 1990 the facility opened for general use.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/king-county-aquatic-center-strengthens-federal-ways-economy-and-profile/|title=King County Aquatic Center strengthens Federal Way's economy and profile {{!}} Federal Way Mirror|date=April 30, 2010|work=Federal Way Mirror|access-date=December 25, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> It was constructed to host the 1990 Goodwill Games, which were held in [[Seattle]].
Land for the center's development was donated by the [[Weyerhaeuser|Weyerhauser corporation]]<ref name=":1" /> and the facility was named after the company and its Chairman, [[George Weyerhaeuser]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.auburn-reporter.com/news/164818666.html|title=Von Reichbauer commemorates Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center|date=August 2, 2012|publisher=Auburn Reporter|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> The Seattle Goodwill Games Committee provided $5 million and King County issued an $8.8 million bond to fund the facility.<ref name=":1" />
== Operations ==
=== Facilities ===
Swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo are accommodated by the technical features of the center. It is one of only a few of its kind in the [[United States]].<ref name=":1" />
Center facilities include:
* 9–10.5 feet deep [[Olympic-size swimming pool|Olympic-sized]] competition and training pool (competition natatorium)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/activities-rentals/aquatics.aspx|title=Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center - King County|website=www.kingcounty.gov|language=en|access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref>
* 25 x 17 yard, 17 feet deep diving well equipped for [[Diving platform|platform]] and [[springboard]] diving (competition natatorium)<ref name=":0" />
* 25 x 15 yard recreational pool with [[Piracy|pirate]] cove features and theme (recreation pool)<ref name=":0" />
* Banquet hall seating for 245 people banquet-style and 400 people theater-style (banquet hall)<ref name=":0" />
For the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the center started serving as a COVID-19 testing site open to the public in October 2020.<ref name="KCgov5Oct2020">[https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/news/2020/October/5-covid-testing-sites.aspx "Two more new COVID-19 testing sites in south King County"]. ''kingcounty.gov''. October 5, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2022.</ref>
The center has an annual economic impact of $7.5 million USD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/165191746.html|title=Economic impact of U.S. Olympic diving trials, King County Aquatic Center|date=August 6, 2012|publisher=Federal Way Mirror|access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>
=== Closures ===
During the COVID-19 pandemic the center temporarily closed for several months, from March to September 2020, to accommodate best practices and prevent the spread of [[COVID-19]].<ref name="Race25Jul2020">Race, Retta (July 25, 2020). [https://swimswam.com/weyerhaeuser-king-county-aquatic-center-closed-until-september-21st/ "Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center Closed Until September 21st"]. ''[[SwimSwam]]''. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref> In November 2021, non-essential personnel and spectators were officially allowed back in to attend sporting events.<ref name="ESN4Nov2021">[https://elisportsnetwork.com/2021/11/04/wiaa-fans-will-be-allowed-at-state-swim-and-dive-championships/ "WIAA: Fans will be allowed at State Swim and Dive Championships"]. ''Eli Sports Network''. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref>
From August 1 to mid-September 2022 and for the summer of 2023, the center is temporarily closed to use by the public for facility upgrades following its turning 30 years of age.<ref name="FWM3Aug2022">[https://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/weyerhaeuser-king-county-aquatic-center-closes-for-upgrades/ "Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center closes for upgrades"]. ''Federal Way Mirror''. August 3, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.</ref>
== Events held at the center ==
As well as the Goodwill Games for which the center was constructed, each year the facility hosts high profile events. These have included [[United States Olympic Trials (diving)|Olympic Team Trials in diving]], NCAA championships, PAC-12 conference championships, USA Swimming senior events and Speedo Junior Nationals.<ref name=":2" /> One way the center serves the community that funded its construction, the residents of [[King County, Washington|King County]], as well as Washington state residents at large, is through hosting events such as high school state swimming and diving championships.<ref name="Graham9Nov2021">Graham, Jeff (November 9, 2021). [https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/sports/2021/11/09/bainbridge-contention-girls-swim-dive-state-title/6354277001/ "Bainbridge in contention for girls swim/dive state title"]. ''[[Kitsap Sun]]''. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref><ref name="Drowley13Nov2021">Drowley, Doug (November 13, 2021). [https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/tahoma-uses-its-depth-to-exceed-expectations-and-win-4a-state-swimming-and-diving-championship/ "Tahoma uses its depth to exceed expectations and win 4A state swimming and diving championship"]. ''[[The Seattle Times]]''. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref><ref name="YHR13Nov2021">[https://www.yakimaherald.com/sports/prep_sports/cbbn/eisenhower/prep-swimming-selah-places-in-seven-events-in-2a-1a-state-finals/article_333627a3-ca29-522c-b7f8-ad7a11718c3a.html "Prep swimming: Selah places in seven events in 2A-1A state finals"]. ''[[Yakima Herald-Republic]]''. November 13, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref>
== Recognition ==
In December 2015 ''[[Swimming World]]'' published a feature on King County Aquatic Center, highlighting eleven reasons it found the center to be "awesome" including playing a pivotal role in the swimming careers of notable [[Olympic Games|Olympians]] [[Nathan Adrian]] (the only swimmer to make the list from [[Washington (state)|Washington State]]), [[Michael Phelps]], [[Missy Franklin]], [[Cullen Jones]], [[Simone Manuel]], and [[Haley Anderson]].<ref name="MarstellerKroll8Dec2015">Marsteller, Jason; Kroll, Chuck (December 8, 2015). [https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/11-reasons-seattle-king-county-aquatic-center-are-awesome/ "11 Reasons Seattle, King County Aquatic Center Are Awesome"]. ''[[Swimming World]]''. Retrieved November 22, 2021.</ref>
==Gallery==
Some of the venue facilities include the following.
<gallery>
File:King County Aquatic Center main entrance - 23 November 2022.jpg|Main entrance and COVID-19 test site signage
File:King County Aquatic Center bleacher area - 23 November 2022.jpg|Bleacher seating in the competition natatorium
File:King County Aquatic Center competition pool and timing system - 23 November 2022.jpg|Competition pool with timing system
File:King County Aquatic Center diving tower and well - 23 November 2022.jpg|Diving well and tower
File:King County Aquatic Center media booth - 3 March 2023.jpg|Media booth
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[Swimming at the Goodwill Games]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/activities-rentals/aquatics.aspx Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center official website]
{{Coord|47.295366|-122.343318|display=title}}
[[Category:Sports venues in Seattle]]
[[Category:Swimming venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1990]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Federal Way, Washington]]