Rose Park Pool is a prized community recreation spot in Billings, Montana. Working in partnership with aquatic design consultant Counsilman-Hunsaker and our client the City of Billings Parks and Recreation, our team designed a renovation for the facility that would provide an exceptional (and invigorating) experience for staff and pool-goers alike.

The project goals were to: enhance comfort, safety, and accessibility; reduce operating and utility costs; create an environment reflective of the community; and ensure a highly functional design to transcend generations.

The facility comprises two separate buildings tied together by a roof canopy. The fully enclosed and conditioned “warm” building consists of a community room, year-round restrooms, concessions, first aid, and office. The “cold” building houses locker rooms and family changing rooms with a simple construction of block walls with metal screens above eight feet for natural ventilation.

The team used the “warm” and “cold” buildings as site design tools, placing them where they would best benefit pool activity. The warm building situated toward the west takes advantage of existing trees that provide shade between the pool and building. Placing the office at the center increases visibility to the pool and slides. With the cold building at the east, pool users have more privacy from the street and easy access to storage for pool equipment. The curved roof connects the two buildings with the gap between the two serving as the entrance.

The design aesthetic ties into the neighborhood with the structural block, steel columns, and wood beams serving as a contemporary take on the original pool house and neighboring Rose Park Elementary School.

Trees and landscaping are celebrated throughout the site, enhancing the building and pool experience. The oculus and tree at the entry emphasize the value placed on the landscape. The site layout preserves all of the heritage trees found in the established park, and incorporates them with new greenspace into the pool deck for the enjoyment of shade seekers and sunbathers alike.