The state-of-the-art facility will be home to the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams and community programming
“The opening of our new aquatics center will be a defining moment in the history of varsity sports, club sports, recreation, and fitness at Tufts,” said Ryan Pisarri, the university’s director of athletics. Image: Sasaki
The university has announced that it will be submitting plans to the city of Medford for a new aquatics center on College Avenue, with construction expected to be completed by the start of the Fall 2028 semester.
The aquatics center will be transformational for the Jumbos’ men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, which currently practice in pools both on- and off-campus. The space will also enable new campus-wide fitness and wellness programming and create more opportunities for community programming for the university’s neighbors in Medford and Somerville.
The back-to-back 2022 and 2023 NESCAC champion women’s swimming and diving team, and the men’s swimming and diving team, which finished in the NCAA Division III Top 10 from 2023 through 2025, will relocate to the new center.
The new aquatics center replaces the 80-year-old Hamilton Pool. Among the limitations of the current undersized pool are that it does not permit Tufts to host NESCAC swimming and diving championship meets—despite the strength of the university’s programs—and that Tufts divers must travel to conduct all their practices and competition at other universities.
The new facility will include a 50-by-25-meter Olympic-sized swimming pool, two 1-meter and two 3-meter diving boards, and viewing room for spectators, with a state-of-the-art timing system and scoreboard, and locker rooms for both the men’s and women’s teams and the greater Tufts community.
This latest addition to the university’s athletics campus will be located adjacent to the recently completed Sol Gittleman Park and Vouté Courts at the Tufts Tennis Center. Also planned for the area is a tennis pavilion that will provide a team room for men’s and women’s tennis as well as restroom facilities for the athletics fields.
The Daring Art of Diving
“Alongside academics and co-curricular activities, our support for athletics is a critical part of providing a transformative experience for Tufts students,” said Tufts University President Sunil Kumar. “The new aquatics center will undoubtedly create a more vibrant student life for not only our student-athletes but for all our students. It will also be a space where we can welcome other members of the Tufts community and our neighbors for recreation.”
The university has raised $21.7 million for the center to date, thanks to generous donations from the Tufts community, against a fundraising goal of $27.5 million, which is approximately 50% of the total construction costs. As the project progresses, the university will continue to accept gifts, including those that would allow for naming opportunities.
A Jumbo Improvement
The aquatics center’s new pool will be double the size of the existing pool and will allow both the men’s and women’s teams to practice simultaneously. Its size will also enable the university to host NESCAC and regional swim meets—an opportunity to showcase Tufts that is not possible with the current pool.
“The opening of our new aquatics center will be a defining moment in the history of varsity sports, club sports, recreation, and fitness at Tufts,” said Ryan Pisarri, the university’s director of athletics.
The addition of the new diving boards will eliminate the need for divers to train and compete off campus throughout the year. The elimination of that need for off-campus travel has an additional benefit, notes Pisarri: “It gives [Head Coach] Adam Hoyt and his coaching staff more time each week to teach, mentor, and inspire our swimmers and divers to become even stronger leaders, people, and champions.”
From his arrival at Tufts more than 20 years ago, Hoyt says, it has been clear that values like friendship, loyalty, and mutual support were major priorities for the swimming and diving teams. Those values, he says, are a big reason why he chose to build his life alongside the Jumbos.
“I live two blocks behind the pool with my wife and two kids. Coaching here is a family affair,” Hoyt said. “What I think about when it comes to Tufts swimming and diving is a whole lot of Jumbo love, family togetherness, and lifelong relationships."
Benefits for the Extended Community
The space will also host water activities for Tufts undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff, who will be able to take advantage of open swimming hours and water aerobics classes, for example.
The availability of swim lessons for Medford and Somerville residents will increase from the number of sessions available at the current pool. The aquatics center will also make special events possible, such as a proposed swimming classic between Medford and Somerville high schools, akin to the boys’ and girls’ basketball classics played at Cousens Gym each year.
The aquatics center will feature additional areas outside the pool (including a wet classroom) for physical and mental wellness activities, and gathering areas for faculty, staff, and students.
The aquatics center is being designed for accessible use by all athletes, pool users, and spectators. Relevant features include the accessible main entrance as well as accessible restrooms, lockers, parking adjacent to the building plaza, and access to both floors and all program spaces.
