Dear Clients & Friends,
Hopkins & Porter was recently involved in the construction of the new K9 Aquatic and Wellness Center at the Travilah Oak Shopping Center in Potomac, Maryland. The concept of a rehabilitation center, where dogs can swim to help them recover from injury, and to promote fitness as they age is not entirely new, but the new K9 Aquatic Center is the first of its kind in Montgomery County, MD. The Center boasts five individual pools, with ramps for dogs, and stairs for handlers. The pools are heated and treated with non-chlorinated water and specialized filters.
Hydrotherapy has been around since ancient times; long recognized as a way to speed up recovery from and/or prevent injuries. The physics are simple: water provides buoyancy, which relieves stress on joints, and creates resistance, allowing for a safer and faster recovery. Hydrotherapy for animals first began with race horses, and was later used on greyhound race dogs. Today, canine hydrotherapy is recognized as one of the best ways to help dogs recover from injury, alleviate degenerative conditions, and improve fitness.
Constructing the new K9 Aquatic Center presented several challenges, and required extra steps and precautions to complete. Normally in building construction, the objective is to keep moisture out of the interior space, but when building an indoor pool, the opposite is true. Building sciences tells us that the direction of water vapor flow is from high vapor pressure or high humidity to low vapor pressure or low humidity. In order to prevent moisture drive from the pool to the exterior and neighboring spaces, Icynene closed cell foam was installed at the walls and ceiling to contain the moisture, and a sophisticated Desert Aire dehumidification system was designed to control humidity, and to prevent moisture from undermining the structural integrity of the building.
Over 5000 cubic feet of concrete, gravel, and dirt was removed to create the new Aquatic Center swimming pools. The insulation was installed above the excavated area prior to digging, and completed in two subsequent stages to allow trades to keep working and to install electrical and mechanical after construction of the pool. Hopkins & Porter needed to verify no utilities were present beneath the slab prior to excavation, and that the depth and width would not undermine the existing building footings. Additionally, excavators, backhoes, and loaders had to be equipped with Tier 4 exhaust scrubbers that reduce the diesel exhaust emissions to safe indoor working levels with the assistance of a negative pressure ventilation system.
The completion of the project required coordination between Paddock Pools and Hopkins & Porter, who were both individually hired by the owner, Dominique Darcis. Communication between the three parties was key to ensuring smooth scheduling of each construction phase. Paddock Pools was selected based on their expertise in commercial pool construction and in the types of filtration systems required for the operation of a pool for dogs. Project Coordinator, Todd McPhee, of Hopkins & Porter oversaw the day to day operations, and Kai Tong, AIA architect for Hopkins & Porter, delivered the final design and permitted plans. The permit process was no easy task, since Montgomery County had never classified a similar space. Kai Tong’s extensive experience was critical for deftly maneuvering, assisting in classifying, and expediting the permit process.
As we near completion of the K9 Aquatic Center, and prepare for the Grand Opening, we are all excited to have been part of a very unique project, and one that will benefit man’s best friend. We are extremely appreciative that Dominique Darcis elected to involve Hopkins & Porter in this project, and that her trust in us was unwavering, even when the unforeseen presented additional challenges. We wish Dominique the best of luck with her new business, and we hope to have you and your four legged friends join us at the Grand Opening on Saturday April 30, 2016, to take advantage of this unique retreat that is sure to be a splash.
Visit www.hopkinsandporter.com to see more project photos, and in May to see photos of the K9 Center after completion.
