Georgia State University Aquatics-to-Basketball Complex Conversion/Adaptive Reuse

The assignment

Located in an aquatics facility which sat unused for 20 years, the Georgia State University Basketball and Volleyball Practice Complex includes six baskets, four of which can be raised, two scoreboards, and anchors for volleyball net stanchions.

The curve ball

The biggest challenge was the filling in of the pool that is now under the court. To accomplish this, the bottom of the pool was filled with lightweight concrete. Then structured expanded polystyrene foam blocks were put over the concrete to a depth of four feet. A vapor barrier was put over the foam blocks. Six inches of concrete was poured over the blocks, which got the surface to the level of the pool deck. Because of the drains around the pool deck, more concrete was poured to make the floor consistently level. This provided the subsurface required for the wood flooring system, which meets the NCAA college level requirements.