Natatorium Opens its Doors to the Community

The Wellness Center has officially opened the Natatorium after years of building. The facility had their official ribbon cutting ceremony on April 15. This opening has been long awaited, but it’s finally open to the swimming and diving teams, students and the community. 

The facility had originally begun the building process in 2019. The construction had faced unforeseen delays with the pandemic and construction time. It was not until 2023 when the groundbreaking ceremony had taken place. 

The Natatorium added 45,800 square feet to the Wellness Center. This new facility features an olympic sized pool, leisure pool and an aquatic obstacle course. It also has a hot tub and steam room. 

With the new addition, it will allow the university to host large-scale swimming competitions, thus giving the swim and dive teams the opportunity to compete in the new and improved pool. 

Students and community members are encouraged to use the facility as well.  Various amenities include the leisure pool, which was designed for intramural water sports, as well as  water aerobics and swim lessons. 

The NinjaCross is an obstacle course that creates challenges for swimmers of all ages andallows people to do aquatic exercises. Alongside that, the hot tub and steam room accommodate up to 25 people. Both the hot tub and steam room can be beneficial to people’s health and wellness. 

The highly awaited opening had one student eager to see the facility. Hannah Nelson, a USD senior, was excited to have the opportunity to use the Natatorium before graduating. 

“It provides a great addition to the university’s wellness center and provides a great space for all activity levels” Nelson said. “It is great to use it for leisure activity or for an after lifting recovery.”

Chloe Brown works at the Wellness Center and has gotten a first hand insight about  students’ interests with the new pool. 

“The Natatorium is a great addition to USD because it offers a new option for students to get active,” Brown said. “I have noticed an increase in the amount of students coming into the Wellness Center, so it is great to see people being more active and trying something new.”

The Natatorium is accessible for people who are looking to try something new. However, it is also accessible for current or past athletes as well. Ali Dierks consistently goes to the Natatorium and has previously swam competitively on a club swim team. 

“I have loved being able to get back in the water and swim more consistently, especially since the new pool has more accessible hours than the Dome pool did,” Dierks said.

The new addition of the Natatorium makes new opportunities for USD’s Wellness Center. After years of anticipation, the facility is generating excitement among students, athletes, and the community.