An independent school serving more than 1,700 boys and girls from the Atlanta area, The Westminster Schools had a tradition of excellence to uphold in the design and construction of a new natatorium. The old Turner Gymnasium, a six-lane pool and gymnasium facility, was praised in 1970 as "the city's finest" by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Construction of the new Turner Gymnasium began in 1999. The natatorium was to include a 17-lane pool with diving area, as well as stadium seating in two balconies. Plans called for the pool to hold 500,000 gal of water in a space of approximately 167,000 sq ft.

"This was a high-profile project in the community at a high-profile ...