The Sandra J. Stetson Aquatic Center project consisted of the construction of a new Crew Team Boathouse, Water Research Center and Social Function Space on the shores of Lake Baresford, about 6 miles from Stetson University’s main campus. The scope also included preparation of the site and preservation of natural plant materials. The aquatic center provides storage for up to 60 boats on the first floor and houses rowing machines and lockers for the teams’ daily workouts. There is also a recruitment area with a conference room and big-screen TVs to host prospective athletes and their families. The second floor includes space with a science lab for research, teaching and Stetson’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience. A large meeting room upstairs provides a “neutral ground” for government leaders, citizens, activists groups and others to work on solutions to complex environmental problems. The second floor of the aquatic center has solid glass walls on three sides for a maximized view as well as a balcony that wraps around three sides of the building. Outside, trails and elevated walkways lead to the water’s edge and continue through a garden named after 18th-century botanist John Bartram. Along Lake Beresford, there are docks to launch crew “shells” and a viewing platform that overlooks the lake, which connects to the St. Johns River.
