Edina approves $8.44M aquatic center upgrades
The Edina City Council approved an $8.44 million project to replace the aging filter room and pump house at the Edina Aquatic Center, addressing state code compliance issues and preventing potential system failures.
The project will replace infrastructure that has been in service since 1958 and no longer meets modern standards set by the Minnesota Department of Health. The most significant upgrade involves enlarging undersized balancing tanks that store displaced pool water for reuse rather than sending it down drains.
The biggest issue we have is the code through the department of health has changed since the original construction," a city official explained during the meeting. "It is requiring us to enlarge the balancing tanks which is basically what takes the water that's displaced by all the kids and people that are enjoying it here today and it does not dump it down the drain.
The urgency of the project became clear in 2021 when a mechanical failure nearly shut down the aquatic center just 10 days before the season opening. With replacement parts long obsolete, city staff had to source used components to get the system running, delaying the opening by more than a week.
Construction will begin this fall after the aquatic center closes for the season on August 17th. HNU Construction was awarded the contract, with the project expected to complete by May 2026. The new filter room will be built next to the original pump house, with a new deck above providing additional shaded seating and reservable spaces such as cabanas.
Our proprietary artificial intelligence agent analyzed publicly available documents including meeting agendas, minutes, and transcripts to write this story to help inform local residents. Feedback helps us improve, so please consider rating how we did with the thumbs up or down below.
Go deeper on this topic
Research related meeting documents and build a brief — without rewriting the story.
Full analysis
Edina Aquatic Center Filter Room Construction Approval
Dissent: None recorded.
Moved by Unknown [N/A] · Seconded by Unknown [N/A]
The discussion focused on the critical need to replace obsolete equipment dating back to 1958. Staff highlighted that a 2021 mechanical failure nearly prevented the season opening due to parts being obsolete. Technical requirements from the Department of Health regarding water displacement and balancing tank capacity were cited as the primary drivers for the expansion.
The biggest issue we have is um the code through the department of health has changed since the original construction. uh it is requiring us to enlarge the balancing tanks which is basically what takes the um water that's displaced by all the kids and and people that are enjoying it here today and it does not dump it down the drain.
Source document
[Music] The Edina Aquatic Center is a summer favorite, and the city of Edina is making sure it stays that way. The city council has approved construction of a new filter room, replacing a pump house that's been in service since 1958 and no longer meets modern standards. The upgrades are needed to comply with state code, including updates to pumping equipment, filters, electrical capacity, and surge tanks. The project also includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural improvements. The biggest issue we have is um the code through the department of health has changed since the original construction. uh it is requiring us to enlarge the balancing tanks which is basically what takes the um water that's displaced by all the kids and and people that are enjoying it here today and it does not dump it down the drain. It takes it to a place where it can be stored and then be reused as pool water again. Um the balancing tanks that are there currently are under size for a pool of this size. So, a large portion of this project requires us to increase those to the new code requirements that will allow us to accept the actual capacity of the cool and the displacement that's going to happen. >> Just 10 days before the 2021 season opening, a mechanical failure nearly shut the center down. With parts long obsolete, Atten's team had to scrge used components to get the system running, delaying opening day by more than a week. Since then, plans have been underway to prevent a repeat. Construction of the new filter room will begin this fall after the aquatic center closes for the season on August 17th. It will be built next to the original pump house with a new deck built above it. That added space will be used for shaded seating and reservable spaces such as cabanas, enhancing the guest experience. HNU Construction was awarded the construction contract. The $ 8.4 4 million project is expected to wrap up by May 2026.
Was this story helpful?
Other Topics from This Document
Edina Aquatic Center Infrastructure Upgrades
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.