From Grocery Store to Swim School: Building Barron’s New Ballwin Facility
By Jennifer Stevens, Landmark Aquatic
Before it became Barron Sports Center, the building in Ballwin, Missouri had an entirely different purpose: it was a grocery store.
Transforming that existing retail space into a facility capable of supporting swimming, gymnastics, dance, and other youth classes meant doing much more than finding a new use for an old building. A swimming pool would need to be constructed where a concrete retail floor once stood, aquatic systems would need to be incorporated into a structure never designed to accommodate them, and the construction team would have to work within the physical constraints of an existing building.
For Barron, however, the finished facility represented an important opportunity. For the first time, the organization could bring its different programs together within one location.
Aquatic Design Partners designed the aquatic portion of the project, Hoener Architects served as architect, and A.J. Brown, Inc. served as general contractor. Landmark Aquatic joined the team as the aquatic builder, responsible for turning the pool design into a functioning 58,246-gallon instructional swimming environment.
Making Room for a Pool
Building a commercial swimming pool is already a highly coordinated process. Building one inside a former grocery store adds another layer entirely.
Before Landmark could begin constructing the pool, the existing concrete floor had to be broken up and removed from the area designated for the new aquatic space. From there, crews encountered the realities that come with adaptive reuse.
Unlike a new aquatic facility where construction sequencing and building openings can be planned around the installation of large equipment, the Barron project was contained within an existing structure. Pool equipment, piping, construction materials, and other components had to make their way through relatively small existing doorways.
Within those constraints, Landmark began building the new pool from the ground up. What had once been the floor of a grocery store was gradually becoming an aquatic facility.
Built for Learning
The 58,246-gallon, 2,160-square-foot pool equipped with underwater lighting provides an adaptable environment well suited for swim classes, giving instructors the flexibility to work with swimmers of different ages and ability levels, and improving visibility throughout the pool.
Built-in steps and benches with transition-defining tile provide convenient points for swimmers to enter, exit, gather, and receive instruction. Decorative sea turtle tile inlays add a playful touch to the environment, creating a space that feels approachable for younger swimmers, while lane lines and backstroke flags give instructors the ability to organize the water for more structured lessons and skill development.
Together, these features create a pool that isn’t simply designed to hold water. Each element supports how the space is used every day, helping Barron’s instructors manage lessons effectively while creating a comfortable, functional environment for swimmers.
Behind the Water
Much of what makes a commercial pool function happens outside the view of the swimmers using it.
Landmark’s scope extended beyond construction of the pool shell to installation of the equipment responsible for circulating, filtering, heating, disinfecting, and maintaining nearly 60,000 gallons of water long-term.
Efficient circulation and filtration continuously move and clean the water, while variable frequency drives allow pump speeds to be adjusted based on operational needs rather than requiring equipment to always run at full capacity. Over the life of the facility, that flexibility can help reduce unnecessary energy use and equipment wear.
Maintaining consistent water temperature and quality is particularly important for a swim school, where lessons depend on comfortable and safe conditions. Automated chemical controls help operators maintain water chemistry, while UV treatment provides an additional layer of sanitization. Automated chemical feeding further reduces the amount of manual adjustment required from facility staff.
For a building that began its life serving grocery shoppers, fitting a manageable and serviceable commercial aquatic mechanical system within the existing footprint required careful planning at nearly every stage.
More Than a Swim School
The pool is only one part of what makes the new Barron facility significant.
Barron has long offered programs for children and families, but the Ballwin location created its first opportunity to bring swim instruction together with gymnastics, dance, and Ninja classes in a single facility. Instead of functioning as separate destinations, those programs can now share one home.
That makes the transformation of the building particularly fitting. An existing space built for an entirely different purpose was adapted around what Barron needed next. A former grocery store floor now sits beneath nearly 60,000 gallons of water, supporting a facility designed around how Barron serves families today.
A Partnership Beyond Construction
Opening day may mark the end of construction, but for Landmark Aquatic, it doesn’t mark the end of the relationship.
Barron owns and operates three swim schools, two of which were built by Landmark Aquatic. Today, Landmark continues to support all three facilities through AquatiCare, a preventative maintenance program designed to help commercial aquatic facilities protect their equipment, maintain reliable operation, and identify potential issues before they become larger problems.
For swim school operators and franchise owners looking to develop their next facility, Barron offers a valuable example of what is possible when the aquatic environment is considered as part of the bigger picture. Even within the constraints of an existing building, thoughtful planning, coordination, and the right project team can turn an unconventional space into a facility built around the needs of swimmers, instructors, and long-term maintainability.
View the Barron Swim School project profile here: https://landmarkaquatic.com/portfolio/barron-swim-school/
About the author
Jennifer Stevens is the Marketing Operations Manager and photographer for Landmark Aquatic, where she helps tell the stories of aquatic facilities and the communities they serve. Since entering the aquatics industry in 2022, she has worked across marketing, sales, and business development, collaborating with both public and private organizations, including municipalities, swim schools, resorts, and more. Through photography, industry outreach, and strategic marketing, Jennifer works to showcase the people, facilities, and partnerships that strengthen communities and expand access to quality aquatic experiences. She can be reached at jstevens@landmarkaquatic.com
About Landmark
Since 1967, Landmark Aquatic has helped communities and organizations bring complex aquatic facilities to life and keep them performing. Today, we are the nation’s largest integrated commercial aquatics platform, providing design, construction, renovation, restoration, and maintenance services nationwide. Our construction-led expertise and long-term service capabilities give customers one trusted partner across every stage of a facility’s lifecycle. For the life of your pool.