Photo courtesy AGC of Washington The new swimming pool at Tacoma Country and Golf Club was built into a steep hillside.

One factor dominated construction of the 2,500-square-foot swimming pool facility: The half-Olympic-sized pool had to be built on a steep hillside overlooking the edge of a lake.

The steep embankment required extensive excavation and a retaining wall system. Korsmo Construction had to connect the multi-tired complex to the American Lake beachfront by an elevator housed in a clock tower in order to make the lakefront ADA accessible for club visitors.

Both ends of the site are bordered by green belts, which had to be preserved and incorporated into the project’s landscaping. Only a few trees were removed in coordination of the city of Lakewood.

This was a seven-month project completed in only four months in order to meet the club’s business objective of attracting and retaining younger members. The board and membership concluded that the pool had to be open for the club’s Fourth of July celebration. Construction began on Feb. 28 and the pool was fully operational on July 3.

The club gained 115 new members in its target demographic immediately following the grand opening.

The project had no time-loss injuries despite a 75-degree sloped embankment, wet and rainy conditions, and an owner-occupied site.