The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) board has decided to move ahead with the plan of restoring the swimming pool at Miramonte. On Jan. 19, 2026, the AUHSD board approved a $2.5 million contract with Waterworks Industries to renovate and remodel the Bill Brown Aquatic Center, with construction scheduled to start in the summer of 2026.
The renovation was prompted by reports that a section of the pool’s cantilever deck — an overhanging structure that gives the pool a “floating” edge — had fallen into the water.
“Our pool needs repair because it is over 20 years old, and has internal issues with the physical deck, pool and internal electrical system,” principal Ben Campopiano said. Despite the district’s ongoing challenges with funding, the district decided to move forward with the first phase of the project, which will be subsidized through Fund 35 and Fund 21.
Fund 35 is used to manage expenditures for major school construction projects, funded by state bond apportionments. Fund 21 is used for local school construction projects, which are generally used to build, repair, or renovate school buildings. The remodel plan of Phase 1 includes redoing the pool’s plaster, deck, tile work, overhead lighting and the scoreboard structure. According to The Orinda News, Phase 1 is anticipated to take around three to four months to complete.
Out of three bidders, the lowest bid during the process was from Waterworks Industries, Inc., bidding at around $2.5 million.
“The first and only bid received for the initial plan, a broader renovation, was rejected last year,” Michelle Jun, writer for The Orinda News, said. After the initial plan was refused, a new, revised plan was later approved, followed by a competitive bidding process. Though Waterworks bid was the lowest received, the district is still currently short in budget for the project, leading to a goal of raising $300,000 for stadium-quality lighting. The deadline to meet is May 2026 to align with Phase 1, and so far, they have raised $115,000, which is nearly 40%.
“We want the Miramonte aquatics facility to be the best around, but our current lighting is not nearly as good as that of most high schools in the Bay Area. This impacts practice, games, and fan experience,” Campopiano said. “We need to raise the funds by May to have the lights installed during the first phase of the project this summer. If fundraising is delayed, it’s unclear how much the costs will increase down the road.”
The remodeling will both benefit and disadvantage those who use the pool. After the pool is finished, it will be much better for the athletes, since they will no longer have to worry about pieces of the pool falling into the water or the facility not having adequate lighting. But, during the summer when it is being renovated, athletes such as water polo players and swimmers who normally use the pool to practice together might have trouble finding other training facilities. Though summer practices may be disrupted, officials say the long-term improvements aim to provide Miramonte students with a safer and more modern aquatic facility for years to come.
