USD makes a splash with new Natatorium

Facility built for champions and community will utilize Energy ONE Incentive

The new $31 million Natatorium at the University of South Dakota is making waves.

The 45,800 square-foot facility offers multiple pools, an aquatic obstacle course, spectator seating and modern amenities all under one roof. It’s designed to serve both the campus and the greater Vermillion community.

This state-of-the-art facility is a shining example of what’s possible when partnerships come together.

Powered by Heartland’s Energy ONE Incentive, the Natatorium will see long-term savings, benefiting USD’s bottom line.

Aquatic hub for the region

The Natatorium replaces the decades-old pool in the DakotaDome. It marks a major upgrade in capacity, technology and comfort.

The facility was designed to support both wellness and competition. Water features include an Olympic-sized competition pool, a warm-water wellness pool, and a 25-person hot tub.

Visitors can enjoy a steam room, a NinjaCross aquatic obstacle course, and seating for up to 500 spectators.

The space also includes upgraded locker rooms, a multipurpose room and dedicated areas for lifeguards, coaches and meet management.

Both the USD swimming and diving teams will train in the new facility, which is also open to the public. It will host swimming lessons, fitness classes, lap swim and community events.

Energy ONE Incentive is smart fit

The new Natatorium is diving into long-term energy savings thanks to its enrollment in Heartland’s Energy ONE Incentive. The program is designed to support large electric customers with an energy-only rate the first three years of operation.

The Energy ONE Incentive eliminates the demand charge during that time, which can often be difficult to estimate on new facilities.

Heartland Energy supplies supplemental power to the USD campus as part of its power supply contract with the State of South Dakota.

“The Energy ONE Incentive is a perfect fit for this high-performance facility,” said Heartland Energy Director of Economic Development Casey Crabtree. “USD will benefit from stable electric rates and long-term savings that help support their academic and athletic goals.”

Powered by partnerships

USD President Sheila Gestring emphasized the power of collaboration in making the project a reality. The city of Vermillion pledged $1 million towards its construction in 2022.

“We couldn’t do it without the partnership of our community,” she said during the grand opening in April. “This is…a testament to what can happen when everybody gets together and works towards the same goal.”

Heartland is proud to play a part in that success. With the Energy ONE, USD will keep its focus on students, athletes and community while managing energy costs more effectively.