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Designing for residents, service members and their families in Great Falls, Montana

The Scheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatic and Recreation Center, located in Great Falls, Montana, opened its doors in the summer of 2024. This 44,943-square-foot building was created to meet the wants and needs of not only residents of Great Falls, but also active duty service men and women and their families stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base and Montana Air National Guard.

A Dynamic Design

In 2020, City of Great Falls secured a grant through the Department of Defense to build the aquatics and recreation center. The natatorium itself features an eight-lane lap pool with ceilings three stories high to simulate parachute deployment and water-landing trainings. It also includes a multiuse classroom with AV features adjacent to the pool, deck storage to hold helicopter simulation pieces and essential training equipment not only for the military, but also swim teams, swim lessons and recreational activity practice. Beyond the military component, the natatorium was designed for hosting meets, special events, lap swim and swim lessons. Adjacent to the natatorium is the recreation pool, which features a family-friendly pool with a zero-depth entry, therapy lanes, a lazy river and two slides.

All-Weather Recreation

For non-aquatics activities, a gymnasium that includes basketball, volleyball and pickleball, which features a synthetic floor allowing for lower maintenance, is adaptable to different sports and holds up well under the variety of uses the facility was designed for. From above the gymnasium, walkers enjoy a three-lane walking track, which is great in the winter when highs in Great Falls can be in the negative double digits, and a full scope of cardio and fitness equipment. The planned design for the fitness center includes views for morning workout enthusiasts to see the sunrise over the Little Belt Mountains.

Amenities

Rounding out the facility layout is a teak wood sauna, locker rooms, universal changing rooms, a fitness studio, program rooms and a splash pad. The design cost totaled less than $22 million. Ten million dollars of construction, including the design cost, was matched by a Department of Defense grant. The park district, donations and naming rights provided the funding for the remainder of the necessary funds. LPW served as the architect, Swank Enterprises as general contractor, and City of Great Falls Park and Recreation Director Steve Herrig as project manager.

For more information on the design, please visit greatfallsmt.net/recreation.

Jessica Compton, CPRP, CPO, is Park and Recreation Deputy Director at City of Great Falls, Montana.