Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Denunzio Pool, Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
Location
Total Area
50,000 square feet | 5,000 square meters
Date of Completion
Client
1990
Princeton University
The DeNunzio Pool was designed to be among the fastest competition
pools in the world. Equipped for diving as well as swimming, the pool
includes one– and three-​meter springboards and a 10-​meter platform
diving tower. The pool is housed within a 1,300-seat natatorium
connected to the adjacent field house by a landscaped plaza. This
pool building creates a formal entrance to the varsity sports complex.
Facing the plaza, the building’s entrance is shaded by a columned
porch.
In the clerestory, the natatorium uses stone, glazed brick and painted
metal accents and trim to harmonize with the buildings of the main
campus. The front of the building uses the same brick at the same
height as the neighboring walls. At the building’s base, darker brick
is used to reduce the scale of the walls and provide contrast to the
lighter brick above. The simple, stepped form of the building reflects
its function: the highest tier houses the high diving boards, the second
tier contains spectator seating, and the level nearest the ground is the
entrance and lobby.
At the pool-​deck level, the natatorium is connected to the field house
by an underground passageway, which includes locker rooms for
visiting teams. An addition to the field house also houses a training
room.
The building is daylit primarily by translucent clerestory windows.
Windows on the south wall give swimmers a view to the outdoors. Glare
is controlled by dense plantings outside and light-​blocking shades
inside. Upon entering the building, spectators can see the interior from
an overlook area. The bleachers extend from the concourse level down
to the pool deck. Bleachers are finished in Princeton’s colors of orange
and black, which are also used throughout the interior of the building.
1056 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510 | T: 203.777.2515 | F: 203.787.2856
© Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects 2015