Commitment to Athletic Excellence

Boilermaker Aquatic Center

When the new Boilermaker Aquatic Center opened in August 2001, it marked a milestone in the history of Purdue intercollegiate swimming and diving. Built entirely with private funds, the $17.1 million facility has elevated Purdue swimming and diving facilities to a level equal to the finest in the nation.

“Our generous friends and alumni helped build the Boilermaker Aquatic Center to propel our swimming and diving programs to be the best,” said Morgan Burke, director of intercollegiate athletics and former captain of the swim team.

Although great things had been accomplished in the Lambert pool since its completion in 1938, other Big Ten institutions had overtaken Purdue. Enter Bob Holloway, a member of the Class of 1948. He called on Burke to talk about his vision of a new swimming and diving facility for the West Lafayette campus. Holloway and his wife, Doris, a member of the Class of 1947, have been and continue to be longtime supporters of Purdue athletics.

In 1997, a $15 million fund-raising campaign was launched, under the banner “Imagine.” That figure later was revised upward when construction costs exceeded initial estimates. The Holloways, who already had made a leadership gift, added to their contribution and urged others to do the same.

Ground was broken in 1999, and on Oct. 26, 2001, the Boilermaker Aquatic Center and the Doris Z. Holloway Pool were dedicated in ceremonies attended by more than 1,000.

“The completion of the Boilermaker Aquatic Center puts in place the last piece of the puzzle to move swimming and diving into the upper echelon of the Big Ten and nation,” Burke said.

The Boilermaker Aquatic Center, while being home to the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, provides a home for all recreational and educational swimming on campus, as well. When the facility was conceived, planners agreed that the new center should be built on a scale to serve all needs.

Besides the Lambert Gymnasium pool, the Boilermaker Aquatic Center also replaced indoor and outdoor pools at the Recreational Sports Center. Careful scheduling and use of moveable bulkheads allow multiple uses of the Holloway Pool and the diving well simultaneously.

The center is a cooperative effort involving Intercollegiate Athletics, the Division of Recreational Sports and the Department of Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies.

The Boilermaker Aquatic Center was host to the 2005 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.