The William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine has begun a $42 million expansion project, with work expected to continue until Spring 2028. This upgrade, which was first hinted at in 2023, marks a significant investment in the city's aquatic facilities.
The expansion includes the addition of a fourth pool, which will be the complex’s third 50-meter pool. This addition will position the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center as one of the largest facilities of its kind in the nation, capable of hosting large-scale competitive swimming events. Further enhancements for competitive use include the construction of covered bleachers. The center is already slated to host several major events, including the 2026 US National Championships, the 2026 US Junior National Championships, and the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
The facility also serves as the home for Irvine Novaquatics, one of the most successful swimming programs in the United States. Its alumni include Olympians such as Amanda Beard, Aaron Peirsol, Jason Lezak, Milorad Cavic, Jessica Hardy, Lenny Krayzelburg, Gabi Rose, Gabe Woodward, Colleen Lane, and John Mykkanen. Looking ahead, the center is expected to serve as a pre-Olympic staging camp for several countries in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Beyond competitive swimming, the project will introduce a range of upgrades aimed at expanding community access and fitness offerings. These additions include a new training and locker room building, a dedicated pool equipment building, and general utility upgrades to support the larger complex. For recreation, a new splash pad and a NinjaCross obstacle course, suspended over the water, will be installed. The expansion also accounts for increased visitor capacity with the creation of more parking spaces.
Mayor Larry Agran highlighted the project's importance for local residents, stating that Irvine is "becoming a real leader in drowning prevention initiatives." He noted that the new fourth pool will allow the city to "dramatically expand our swim lesson opportunities, reduce our waitlist to zero" and help ensure more children are sufficiently trained to prevent future drownings. The city’s existing Learn to Swim program currently serves over 10,000 local children annually.
City officials anticipate that the construction process will not disrupt current operations at the center. No additional traffic is expected in the surrounding area, and all existing facilities will remain open throughout the expansion period. The costs associated with the $42 million project are projected to be covered by usage fees.
The expansion of the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center comes as the city has previously explored other options for aquatic facility development. Estimates ranging from $80 million to $250 million were considered for a second aquatics center at Great Park, intended to serve as the home of the USA Water Polo National Teams. While that specific Great Park project fell through, city leaders last year revisited the concept of increasing access to aquatic facilities for citizens, rather than solely focusing on elite competitive use. The ongoing Woollett Aquatics Center expansion represents a significant step in enhancing Irvine's aquatic infrastructure.
