Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, required a full replacement of its aging pool to support a high-performance aquatics program with year-round training demands. Brazosport Independent School District set a clear objective: deliver a reliable, competition-grade facility capable of supporting swimming, diving and water polo without disruption to established programs. With the school’s boys’ and girls’ water polo teams ranked among the strongest in the state, uninterrupted access to a properly designed competition pool was essential. Compounding the challenge, the project timeline was critical and had to be met despite the environmental and logistical constraints typical of Texas’ coastal region.
The Project Team
Municipalities and school districts across the country are facing similar challenges—whether they are located in areas with high water tables, coastal soil conditions or year-round community activity. These realities require partners who can engineer solutions that work with the environment rather than against it.
Landmark Aquatic was selected as the aquatic contractor led by Landmark’s newly promoted Jesse Moreno, who played a key role in managing the construction team and was responsible for executing the district’s vision. Landmark was led by Stewart Builders, a Houston-based general contractor specializing in K-12 construction as well as with Counsilman-Hunsaker, which was responsible for both the aquatic design and the construction administration for the district. Together this team collaborated to manage the pool’s construction timeline as well as the environmental challenges of the pool’s location.
Rising to the Engineering Challenge
In addition to the tight timeline for the high school and its water polo teams in particular, depending on the pool’s return to service, the Brazosport project also was also faced with being located in a coastal city with low sea-level elevation, a condition that introduces significant construction challenges. High groundwater levels can create pressure beneath a pool shell, impact excavation stability and complicate structural integrity if not properly managed.
To address the conditions on this site, the project team implemented a 24-hour dewatering system for the duration of excavation and construction. Continuous dewatering is a well-established and widely used method for stabilizing soils and controlling groundwater in saturated environments. It allows crews to excavate safely, place structural components accurately and protect the long-term performance of the pool structure.
This process required constant monitoring, coordination and adjustment, especially because the project took place on an active high school campus. The project team coordinated closely with administrators and district leadership to ensure student safety, minimize disruption, and maintain clear, ongoing communication.
Early Completion with Immediate Athletic Impact
As a result of the coordinated efforts of all partners, the pool renovation was completed several weeks early, providing the Brazoswood’s boys’ and girls’ teams training access ahead of competition season. The timing couldn’t have been better.
“Brazosport ISD has an exceptional aquatics program, and we were proud to deliver a facility that supports their continued success,” noted Keith Mohammed, project manager at Landmark Aquatic. “Opening early meant these athletes could prepare at the highest level.”
“The boys’ water polo team made it to regionals, and the girls reached the state finals,” added Harrison Cardiff, project manager for Stewart Builders. “Because we opened early, both teams were able to start training in their new facility before competition season — it made a huge difference.”
The high school coaches also noted that the upgraded facility gave athletes a more consistent training environment and helped the teams enter the season better prepared.
The project team for Brazosport ISD demonstrates how thoughtful design, technical expertise and precise sequencing can deliver a high-performance facility in a complex setting.
A High-Impact Investment for a High-Performance Program
The completed Brazosport ISD pool gives Brazoswood High School athletes a reliable, purpose-built environment for practice, training and competition. It reinforces the district’s commitment to providing students with the resources they need to excel in the water and in the classroom. The newly renovated aquatic facility now has a long-standing infrastructure designed for high-frequency use with enhanced safety and water quality systems.
As more communities build, renovate or replace aquatic facilities in areas with environmental sensitivities or high water tables, the Brazosport ISD project stands as a clear example of what is possible when technical expertise meets disciplined execution.
Coordinated efforts from the project team, including design, management and execution, shows that even when underground conditions present major challenges, resilient aquatic facilities can be engineered with confidence and built to serve communities for many years.
A Model for Coastal and High Ground Water Projects
The Brazosport ISD pool replacement offers several clear lessons for districts and municipalities that operate in coastal regions or areas with challenging underground conditions:
Early Hydrological Planning Matters: Understanding groundwater conditions from the outset helps prevent delays and informs appropriate dewatering and structural strategies.
Sequencing Is Critical in Saturated Soil Conditions: Pools built in coastal environments require precise coordination between excavation, stabilization, structural shell installation and placement of plumbing and mechanical systems.
Construction in Active Community Spaces Requires Partnership: Working on a live school campus demands strong communication between the district, contractors, coaches and staff to maintain safety and reduce disruption.
Expertise Ensures Longevity: Facilities built in challenging environments must be constructed by teams with experience in coastal hydrology, groundwater control and long-term facility performance.