Opus Design Build to Construct New Aquatics Center at Luther College

​DES MOINES, Iowa - Opus Design Build, L.L.C., announced today a project with Luther College to build a new aquatics center on the Decorah campus.

Luther College President Richard Torgerson has stated that construction of a new Luther College aquatic center is a priority for intercollegiate competition, physical education, and fitness and wellness programs for students and community members. The new facility will be used by thousands of competitors from colleges and high schools, Luther students and community members of all ages. 

"We have a long-standing relationship with Luther College and are pleased to be their partner for this new facility, which will benefit their athletics program as well as enhance the student experience," said Jeff Smith, director of project management, Opus Design Build, L.L.C. 

Construction of the aquatics center is set to begin in September, with completion in May 2013. Opus Design Build, L.L.C. is serving as the design-builder on the project. Opus AE Group, Inc. will serve as architect and structural engineer while Michaels Engineering will be the MEP engineer and Braun Intertec the geotechnical consultant. 

"The campus is buzzing with excitement for construction to begin on the new aquatic center," Lance Huber, Luther College head swimming and diving coach. "The completion of this project culminates years of work, planning and a bit of dreaming. This will be a place teams want to come and compete." 

The competition pool for swimming and diving within the new aquatic center, will be named the David E.G. and Patricia Miller Natatorium in honor of two generous Luther alumni who challenged the community to raise money for the aquatic center. 

The Miller Natatorium will feature a competition pool with eight lanes of a consistent eight-foot water depth and a 13-foot-depth diving area. The plans for the new Luther aquatic center also include a shallow pool for swimming lessons, adaptive physical education classes and water aerobics. 

Luther swimming and diving teams are perennially among the best in the Midwest in NCAA Division III. Coach Huber said the new aquatic center will boost the program with technologically advanced starting blocks with state-of-the-art timing mechanisms, a larger deck and diving space, and accommodations for 280 spectators, allowing Luther to host larger and more prestigious competitions. 

About Luther College
A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,500, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the bachelor of arts degree in 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu. 

About The Opus Group
The Opus Group® is a family of national commercial real estate companies headquartered in Minneapolis, with expertise in development, project management and construction, architecture and engineering, finance, sales and leasing. The Opus Group includes Opus Holding, L.L.C. and Opus Holding, Inc. and their operating subsidiaries, Opus Development Corporation, Opus Design Build, L.L.C. and Opus AE Group, Inc. Specializing in office, industrial, retail, residential living, institutional and government projects, The Opus Group has broad capabilities, deep experience and a proven design-build model that delivers solutions for customers on time and on budget. For more information, visit www.opus-group.com.