Most of us can use a bit of a makeover every 15 years or so, and buildings are no different. Founded in 1985, Palo Alto College has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students annually and offers degree and certificate programs as well as adult and continuing education courses. Its natatorium was built in 1991 and serves not only the college, but also the surrounding San Antonio community.

The natatorium has come to be recognized as a National Class facility and has hosted a number of high caliber competitions including the U.S. Open, the USA Swimming Junior Olympics, the Olympic Festival and several NCAA Championships. It is equipped with moveable bulkheads, allowing for multiple configurations depending on the event. The competitive areas have a minimum depth of five feet and the timing system and scoreboard are state-of-the-art. There are two one- and three-meter diving boards plus platforms at 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0-meters as well as on-deck, stadium seating for up to 2,400 spectators plus an instructional area.

In 2005, after more than 10 years of use, the Series 66 Hi-Build Epoxoline used to coat the pool was holding up well but in need of a freshening up. The concrete pool was abrasive blasted and received two coats of Series 66, a polyamide epoxy, applied at 2.0 to 6.0 mils DFT per coat. Known for its forgiving application characteristics in adverse and varied conditions and for its benchmark performance, Series 66 has been the industry standard for epoxy coatings for over 30 years.

Tnemec coating consultant Pat Barry reports, "The manager of the facility insisted on Tnemec coatings when the facility was built as well as for the 2005 makeover. In fact, the Tnemec coatings applied to the walls and steel in the natatorium area in 1991 still look good nearly 15 years later."