Steel Tension Membrane Recommended for the Cheshire
Community Pool
Thursday night the Cheshire Community Pool Evaluation Committee voted to
recommend a steel tension membrane structure as the option to be recommended to
the Town Council as a permanent solution to ensure that the Cheshire Community Pool
remain a year round facility. The preliminary cost is expected to be $3 million. This
structure is expected to reduce expenses and increase revenues resulting in a
significant reduction in the town’s pool subsidy.
The steel tension membrane structure was selected after extensive review of as many
as eleven options including closing the facility and having it only open in the summer.
The Committee narrowed the options to three: an improved air supported bubble, steel
tension membrane and polycarbonate - greenhouse type structure. The committee
considered the primary needs of the pool including: affordability, reliability and to meet
the needs of the community related to use of the pool – recreational, lessons, physical
therapy and competitive swimming.
The Committee voted for the steel tension membrane structure because it is reasonable
and reliable and will meet all the needs of the community. Steel tension membrane
structures are widely used for swimming pools and made with a permanent steel frame
and a durable tension fabric membrane enclosure. One of the qualities that makes the
Cheshire Community Pool an asset to the community is its size. As an 8 lane 50 meter
pool, the facility can accommodate many activities at once. The size of the pool also
posed a challenge to the Committee to find a feasible structure that could reliably serve
the community. After thorough review of all the options considered, the committee
determined that the steel tension membrane structure meets all of these criteria that
were evaluated by the Committee.

With the bubble the pool remained in operation 70% of the time with 30 %
downtime attributed to storm damage to the bubble and putting the bubble up
and down in the fall and spring. The steel tension membrane structure will allow
the facility to remain open 100% of the year.

The pool generated approximately $600,000 in revenue prior to the bubble
collapse in the February blizzard. The ability of the pool to remain open the
entire year allows for the potential of increase revenue generation.

Steel tension membrane structures are durable and reliable and are built to
withstand the elements including heavy snow loads.

Steel tension membrane structures have a proven reliability. The New England
Patriots training facility and the Denver, Colorado airport both rely on steel
tension membranes for their facilities.

Life cycle costs associated with steel tension membrane structures are lower
compared to a modified bubble or a polycarbonate structure.

Short term and long term operating costs for a steel tension membrane structure
are lower compared to a modified bubble or a polycarbonate structure.

A steel tension membrane structure offers a significant improvement in energy
conservation compared with the previous air supported bubble.

The steel tension membrane design will meet the needs of community.
o No down time – open all year round
o Summer – sides can be removed to allow for air to flow through the facility
o Winter – enclosed facility designed with clear panels on the south side
allowing the public to see the outside.
o Adequate spectator capacity

The construction cost of a steel tension membrane structure is roughly half the
cost of a polycarbonate structure but more than a modified bubble. However, the
bubble’s short life means it must be replaced several times during the lifetime of
the tension membrane structure.
Renderings of the steel tension membrane construction at the Cheshire Community
Pool.
Rendering with sides closed:
Renderings with sides open:
To review more detailed information considered by the Cheshire Community Pool
Evaluation Committee please visit the Town of Cheshire website at
http://www.cheshirect.org/