The Manhattan Beach City Council has voted to award a $244,822 contract to HMC Architects to deliver a preliminary report on proposed designs and costs for a Begg Pool upgrade.

Begg Pool, the site of swim lessons, lap swim, and rec swim for generations of Manhattan Beach residents, is long overdue for an overhaul. The 80-year-old pool is in physical disrepair and lacks the size and multi-use flexibility of standard modern community pools.

The firm plans to do a site analysis, conduct community engagement meetings (one in mid-August and one in late October), assess the needs of the city, and develop two distinct design choices for the city. A final report is expected by early to mid-February.

The two options to be considered are:

1) Renovate the existing 25-yard shallow pool and support buildings at the current Begg Pool site;
2) Design a new aquatics center that includes one 25-yard shallow pool, one 35-meter competition pool, and support buildings at the current Begg Pool site.

A "35-meter competition pool" refers to a pool that is 35 meters wide by 25 yards long. Such a pool could be used for swim meets and lap swimming (at the 25-meter distance) and water polo (at the 35-meter distance). 

The City Council opted not to move forward with an evaluation of MBUSD Yard, at the corner of Peck and Manhattan Beach Blvd., as a potential new location for the pool.

The design firm HMC has completed more than 80 aquatic facilities over the past ten years. The firm's managing principal, Kristina Singiser, grew up in Manhattan Beach and took swim lessons (and middle school PE classes) at Begg Pool.