Aquatics Center Design Development

A 3D aerial view, of the planned aquatics and fitness center.

The Devil is in the Details

In construction and development, detail is everything. One small error during the creation of drawings can cause significant construction delays, cost thousands of dollars correcting those mistakes and create client dissatisfaction. It’s too bad you can’t see a building or facility before it’s built in order to avoid potential errors and to easily secure building permits, planning board approval, and win the hearts of the communities you are building in. Fortunately that’s exactly what preVision Company can do for you.

With architectural previsualization, you can transform two-dimensional drawings and renderings into fully-finished three-dimensional graphics that give a clear and accurate picture of what a facility will look like long before ever breaking ground.

The Project: Aquatics and Fitness Center – Wilmington, North Carolina

In 2004, award-winning developer and landscape architect Scott Stewart began planning a unique swim and fitness facility for an upscale neighborhood community in Wilmington, North Carolina. With an innovative design for the facility already under development, Stewart knew he would have to present a clear and detailed plan of his vision for the facility in order to gain approval from the local planning board and county commissioners to secure the special use permit required to proceed with the project.

To graphically demonstrate the finished look and feel of his vision before securing financing or approval to build, he enlisted the services of preVision Company to deliver a fully-detailed set of photorealistic views of the facility.

Starting with two-dimensional construction drawings developed by Mark Andrew Saulnier, Architect, PLLC, Stewart worked closely with preVision Company to develop 3D views of every room, corridor and exterior angle of the facility just as it would appear when completed. Stewart knew the work previously performed by preVision Company had paid off in many ways, saving valuable time and money throughout the development process.

A sample of a CAD plan for fitness center structure, Mark Andrew Saulnier, Architect, PLLC. preVision Company converted several such plans while in various stages of completion into 3D model components for the project.

Benefits of Previsualization

Planning Board Approval and Permits

Complete with architectural detail, finishes, and colors, preVision Company’s accurate and detailed 3D model renderings helped Stewart secure a Special Use Permit to move forward with the development of the swim and fitness club. With a variety of audiences including County Commissioners, the local Planning Board, residents, and neighbors, preVision Company’s graphics gave everyone involved a clear understanding of the project, which allayed residents’ fears that the development would not fit into the community’s existing landscape and architectural style. Successful completion of the permitting process was the first of many benefits that Stewart would gain from working with preVision Company.

preVision Company’s renderings also helped Stewart quickly gain approval from the Heath Department for the facility’s snack bar because evaluators could see exactly where each piece of equipment would be located in the snack bar kitchen and how the workflow in the kitchen areas would function as well as the circulation space for the customers.

Snack bar interior 3D model.A 3D rendering of the snack bar interior.

Cost Estimates

With detailed three-dimensional renderings, Stewart could determine exactly how many chairs and tables could be fit on the facility’s numerous patios. He could see precisely the quantity of plant materials that would be needed to fill the landscape surrounding the facility.

In addition, Stewart could determine exactly what kind of cabinets, counters, plumbing fixtures, and other interior treatments he wanted before ever breaking ground. This also made it easier for him to solicit bids for contracting because it allowed him to give general contractors a clear picture of his expectations prior to starting the project. This prevented costly rework and miscommunication, thus streamlining the development and construction process. The images also helped bridge language and communication barriers among contractors and subcontractors, ensuring everyone involved in the project was working with the same concept in mind.

A 3D rendering of the competition pool with swim meet equipment.

Financing

Stewart also said the work preVision Company did was immeasurably helpful when approaching lending institutions for financial support. During a down economy, preVision Company’s drawings gave Stewart instant credibility and demonstrated to lenders that his project was thought out and carefully planned.

Unanticipated Benefits

Unanticipated benefits of using preVision Company’s work included the avoidance of several potential design and construction mishaps that might have happened along the way. One such instance was the calculation of the location of openings for the enclosing tower of the complex’s main serpentine slide. 3D views of the tower and the slide aided in the planning of clearances on all sides of the structure. Simple modifications made early on in the design process allowed Stewart to save thousands of dollars by avoiding change orders that would have been required throughout the construction process.

2D CAD plans and 3D model studies for planning openings in the main serpentine slide tower.

Conclusion

preVision Company worked with Stewart during every step of the development process, forming a valuable partnership. This allowed Stewart to focus his efforts on ensuring his project was the best it could be while allowing him to save time, money, and frustration by avoiding delays and costly construction mistakes.

A 3D rendering of sunset at the aquatics center.