Uytengsu Aquatics Center

Uytengsu Aquatics Center. It is the premier aquatic sports venue at the University of Southern California, located on the University Park campus in Los Angeles. Named in honor of alumnus and benefactor Fred Uytengsu, the facility replaced the historic McDonald's Swim Stadium and serves as the home for the USC Trojans men's and women's swimming and diving and water polo teams. The center is recognized as one of the finest collegiate aquatic venues in the United States and has hosted numerous NCAA and Pac-12 Conference championships.

History

The facility's history is rooted in the legacy of its predecessor, the McDonald's Swim Stadium, which opened in 1979 and was the site of the 1984 Summer Olympics swimming and diving events. Planning for a new, state-of-the-art venue began in the late 2000s, with a lead gift from former USC Trojans swimmer and Alaska Milk Corporation president Fred Uytengsu. Construction, managed by Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company, broke ground in 2011 and was completed in 2013. The project was part of a broader campus revitalization effort that included the adjacent USC Village and renovations to Dedeaux Field. The official dedication ceremony featured speeches from USC President C. L. Max Nikias and USA Swimming officials.

Facilities

The center features a 50-meter by 25-yard competition pool, configurable for FINA-standard long course and short course competition, with eight lanes and movable bulkheads. A separate diving well includes platforms at 1-meter, 3-meter, 5-meter, 7.5-meter, and 10-meter heights, alongside springboards. Spectator seating accommodates over 2,500 people under a distinctive tensile fabric canopy designed by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects. Support facilities include a state-of-the-art timing and scoreboard system from Colorado Time Systems, team locker rooms, a training room, and offices for the USC Trojans coaching staff. The deck design incorporates materials resistant to the corrosive Los Angeles climate.

Events

The venue has hosted a significant number of premier aquatic events since its opening. It is the annual site for the Pac-12 Conference Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships and has hosted the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. In water polo, it has been the venue for the NCAA Men's and Women's Water Polo Championships. The center also regularly hosts the USA Diving National Championships and the Speedo Grand Challenge. It was selected as a training site for the United States Olympic Team ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Notable performances

Many world-class athletes have competed at the facility. American swimmers like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel have set meet records at the Speedo Grand Challenge. During the 2017 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, Stanford Cardinal swimmer Katie Ledecky set an American record in the 500-yard freestyle. The USC Trojans women's water polo team, led by coaches Jovan Vavic and later Marko Pintaric, won multiple NCAA championships at their home pool. Divers such as David Boudia and Steele Johnson have earned national titles at the USA Diving events held at the center.

Management and operations

The facility is owned and operated by the University of Southern California and falls under the jurisdiction of the USC Athletics Department. Day-to-day operations are managed by the department's facilities staff, while scheduling for competitions, training, and community use is overseen by the aquatics programs. The naming rights were secured through the philanthropic gift from Fred Uytengsu. The center also supports community outreach, including hosting the USC Swim School and events for local organizations like the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Maintenance and upgrades are funded through the athletics department budget and donor contributions. Category:Swimming venues in California Category:University of Southern California Category:Sports venues in Los Angeles Category:2013 establishments in California