For two winters, the county's indoor alternatives for Executive Boulevard regulars have been in White Oak, Olney, Germantown and Silver Spring. That stretch ends soon, after $34.9 million and 29 months of construction. The building at 5900 Executive Boulevard reopens Monday, Nov. 23, 2026. A ceremony at 2 p.m. is followed by the first Rec Swim.
Most of the money went into the building around the pools, and very little into the water itself. When the doors open, regulars will find the same 50-meter pool, the same diving tower and the same 200-foot flume. Behind the walls and over their heads, nearly everything has been rebuilt.
A Building That Had Been Fighting Its Own Air Since 1989
The center opened in 1989 as the Montgomery Aquatic Center. It was dedicated as the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center on Oct. 23, 2011. According to the county's adopted FY27 capital budget, it had been struggling with the air around those pools from the day it opened. Warm, moist indoor air worked its way into the exterior masonry walls and condensed there, and the county traced roof leakage throughout the building to that problem.
That diagnosis set the plan. The original job was the building's skin. Crews would take off the 4-inch masonry veneer block, restore the windows and louvers, fix the flashings around every penetration, spray on insulation that works as both an air and vapor barrier, put up a new masonry veneer wall system, and replace the roof.
Then the engineers looked more closely. A structural review of the whole facility found that the exterior walls needed "significantly greater structural modifications" than anyone had known. That added scope, budget and time. The same review found that the pool equipment and HVAC systems had reached the end of their useful life and needed full replacement. The Department of General Services' ADA compliance office also reviewed the building and designed fixes for every issue it identified.
Put together, a reroofing project became a near-total rebuild of everything that keeps a 1989 natatorium dry, ventilated and lit.
Where the Money Went
The current project budget is $34.919 million, all of it general obligation bonds. That is $1 million more than the prior estimate of $33.919 million. The county attributes the increase to escalation plus "unanticipated conditions in the KSAC pool flooring." Construction accounts for $28.551 million of the total, and planning, design and supervision for $5.85 million.
Here is how the work breaks down from a swimmer's point of view:
| Work item | Why it was done | What you'll notice on the pool deck |
|---|---|---|
| New roof and exterior masonry veneer | Leaks traced to moist air moving through the walls | Mostly hidden. The fix sits inside the walls. |
| Spray-applied insulation as air/vapor barrier | Keeps humid pool air out of the wall assembly | Invisible |
| Structural changes to exterior walls | Found during the design review; larger than expected | Invisible |
| Full replacement of HVAC and pool equipment | Both at end of useful life | Air quality and comfort over time |
| New lighting and ceilings over all three pools | Part of the systems overhaul | Immediately visible overhead |
| New metal-panel system on the front exterior | Facade work | Visible from Executive Boulevard |
| ADA remediation | Fixes for every identified noncompliance issue | Depends on the area of the building |
The lighting, ceilings and front facade come from the DGS FY2025 annual report, which includes photos of the new lighting, HVAC and ceiling systems for all three pools and of the new metal wall panels on the front. Smaller pieces of the project draw on other county accounts. A net-zero component is paid for through the AltaGas-WGL Merger Fund, and the elevator replacement through the county's Elevator Modernization project.
That table shows why the change may feel subtle on the first visit. The most expensive work went into the parts of the building that a well-run pool keeps out of sight.
The Same Water You Left
The county's project description lists the facility as it has always been: a 50-meter competitive swimming and diving pool, a 200-foot water flume, a separate leisure pool with two hydrotherapy areas, and a diving tower. The center's own page also lists hot tubs, fitness rooms, and access by ramps, elevators, ladders and lifts.
The pool flooring is the one place where the work reached the water. The county mentions it only as the cause of the cost increase and does not describe what was done to it. Nothing published describes new pool basins or a rebuilt diving well. So the lane you swam in until June 2024 is the lane you'll swim in this winter, under new lights and in air handled by new equipment.
How 29 Months Got Covered
The center closed for renovation on June 28, 2024, Montgomery Community Media reported when the closure was announced that February. At the time, the county expected the work to take at least two years. The estimate moved around after that:
- February 2024: a closure of at least two years, per the announcement.
- FY2025 DGS annual report: "at least 18 months."
- February 2025 County Council discussion: substantial completion expected in summer 2026, with public opening likely in fall 2026 after commissioning and staffing, according to Citizen Portal's account of the discussion.
- FY27 capital budget: a minimum of 24 months.
- Current county notice: reopening Monday, Nov. 23, 2026.
The county planned the closure around its other pools. The capital budget says construction started only after the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center was fully operational, and that the schedule was coordinated with work at the MLK Aquatic Center. At closing, the county named White Oak, Olney, Germantown and the new Silver Spring center as indoor alternatives. Annual-pass holders could use those pools or request a prorated refund.
The county also did something less well known to fill the gap. It installed a water-heating system at Glenmont Outdoor Pool and improved the weatherization of its shower rooms, so the pool could open before Memorial Day and stay open after Labor Day. According to DGS, that kept swim meets and revenue-generating activities running while the Kennedy Shriver center was closed.
Before the First Swim on Nov. 23
As of late October, the county has confirmed the date, the 2 p.m. ceremony and the Rec Swim that follows. It has not yet posted a lap-swim schedule, a class lineup, or details for the diving, swim team, masters or scuba programs the center ran before it closed. The center's county page links to a calendar, and that is where the schedule is most likely to show up first. The center is also hiring lifeguards and swim instructors ahead of reopening, which may matter to a high schooler or college student home for winter break.
As of late October, the county's aquatic pass page lists these prices:
- All Pool Pass, individual annual: $400 for residents, $460 for nonresidents
- Daily admission, adults: $7 resident, $20 nonresident
- Daily admission, seniors: $6 resident, $20 nonresident
- Daily admission, youth: $5 resident, $20 nonresident
The page currently lists year-round access to four indoor pools and seven seasonal outdoor pools. Questions about an existing pass can go to the center at 240-777-8070.
Around the Reopening
The reopening falls on the Monday of Thanksgiving week. On Tuesday, Nov. 24, Pike Central Farm Market holds a special Thanksgiving market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 935 Prose Street, in the parking lot next to Pinstripes. That's a short drive from Executive Boulevard and a good stop for the last of the holiday groceries.
Earlier in the month, Strathmore holds its free Museums & Makers Holiday Market at the Mansion from Nov. 12 to 14, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a suggested $10 donation. Strathmore's December concerts start Dec. 1 with Cherish the Ladies and include Leslie Odom Jr. on Dec. 5.
At The Schuman Team, we pay attention to the details that shape daily life here, including the public spaces like this one that neighbors use every week. If you live near Executive Boulevard and are curious how the area's amenities show up in your home's value, we're glad to talk it through, with no pressure. Get Your Home's Value.
