This commercial rooftop pool renovation in Midtown Atlanta delivered a stunning, full-scope upgrade for one of the neighborhood’s most sought-after highrise properties. The project featured new Quartz Blue pool plaster, new Lightwaves Blue 1×2 glass tile, a new salt chlorination system, and new variable-speed energy-efficient pool pumps — producing a pool that is more beautiful, more comfortable, and significantly more efficient to operate.
Midtown Atlanta is one of the most vibrant urban neighborhoods in the South — a place where arts, culture, and high-rise living converge. The rooftop pools that crown Midtown’s residential towers are more than amenities; they are destinations, places where residents unwind above the city’s energy and take in the skyline after a long day.
But maintaining that elevated experience requires investment. Pool surfaces wear under the rigors of commercial use, tile grout cracks and stains, and aging mechanical equipment quietly drains energy dollars month after month. For the management team of this Midtown highrise, the time had come for a comprehensive renovation — one that would match the quality of the building itself.
Allen Pool Service took on every aspect of this project, from draining and surface preparation to equipment installation and final startup. The result is a rooftop pool that feels completely reimagined — and one that will serve residents beautifully for many years to come.
The pool’s interior was fully resurfaced with Quartz Blue plaster — a premium aggregate finish that sets the standard for commercial pool renovations across Atlanta and the broader Southeast.
Where standard white plaster relies on a simple cement mix, quartz-based finishes incorporate high-quality quartz aggregate that dramatically enhances hardness, stain resistance, and longevity. For a commercial rooftop pool subjected to heavy bather loads, intense UV exposure, and the demands of year-round operation, that added durability is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. Quartz finishes routinely last 15–20 years with proper care, roughly double the lifespan of conventional plaster.
The Quartz Blue color selection brings immediate visual impact. Beneath Midtown’s open sky, the finish produces a deep, luminous blue-green water color that looks as though the pool was carved out of the ocean itself. For residents stepping onto the rooftop deck, that first glimpse of brilliantly colored water sets the tone for the entire experience. It is a finish that is as hard-working as it is beautiful — a fitting choice for a pool that is the centerpiece of this property’s amenity offering.
New Lightwaves Blue 1×2 Glass TileOf all the design decisions in this renovation, the selection of Lightwaves Blue 1×2 glass tile for the waterline may be the one that most immediately captures attention. Glass tile is widely considered the premium choice for upscale commercial and residential pools, and Lightwaves Blue showcases exactly why.
The small 1×2 format creates a refined, mosaic-like band around the pool perimeter that reads as both artful and sophisticated. Glass tile interacts with light in a fundamentally different way than ceramic or stone — it reflects and refracts sunlight throughout the day, producing a shimmering, jewel-like quality that shifts subtly as the light changes. On a rooftop pool bathed in direct Atlanta sunlight, that effect is nothing short of spectacular.
Beyond aesthetics, glass tile is an exceptionally practical choice for commercial waterlines. It is non-porous, which means it resists the calcium scaling, chemical staining, and algae growth that are the persistent enemies of waterline tile in high-use pools. It cleans easily, holds its color and finish indefinitely, and will not fade, chip, or discolor over time the way some ceramic alternatives can. For a property where the pool is a premium amenity and first impressions matter, Lightwaves Blue glass tile is an investment that holds its value — visually and practically — for the long term.
This renovation included the installation of a new commercial-grade salt chlorination system, replacing a traditional chlorine-based sanitation setup and delivering meaningful improvements for both the property team and the residents who swim in the pool every day.
Salt systems work through a process called electrolysis: a low concentration of dissolved salt in the pool water passes through an electrolytic cell, which converts it into free chlorine — the same sanitizing agent used in traditional pool treatment, but generated continuously and automatically by the system itself. Once the chlorine does its job, it reverts to salt and the cycle repeats, creating a self-sustaining sanitization loop that requires far less manual chemical intervention.
For commercial property managers, this means fewer chemical deliveries, less hands-on chemical handling by maintenance staff, and a pool that maintains consistent water quality between service visits. Salt systems are also notably more forgiving of fluctuations in bather load — an important characteristic for a busy rooftop pool where usage can vary significantly day to day.
For residents, the difference in the water is immediately noticeable. Salt-treated water is softer and gentler than traditionally chlorinated water — easier on eyes, skin, and swimwear, with none of the sharp chemical odor that many swimmers associate with indoor or heavily dosed outdoor pools. It simply feels better to swim in, and that improved experience is one residents will notice and appreciate every time they use the pool.
Completing the mechanical overhaul, this renovation replaced the existing pool pumps with new variable-speed, energy-efficient models — an upgrade that delivers some of the most quantifiable long-term savings of any pool renovation component.
Conventional single-speed pool pumps operate at one fixed speed regardless of what is actually required at any given moment. During routine filtration and circulation — which accounts for the vast majority of pump operating hours — a single-speed pump is working far harder, and consuming far more energy, than the task demands. Variable-speed pumps solve this by continuously adjusting motor speed to match actual need, running at lower, quieter speeds during standard operation and ramping up only when higher flow rates are called for.
The energy savings are well-documented and substantial: variable-speed pumps can reduce pool pump electricity consumption by 50–75% compared to traditional single-speed models. For a commercial rooftop pool running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, those savings accumulate quickly — translating into hundreds or thousands of dollars annually in reduced utility costs for the property. Variable-speed pumps also operate significantly more quietly and have longer service lives than their single-speed counterparts, further reducing long-term maintenance overhead.
Variable-speed pumps are now required by code for new commercial pool installations in many jurisdictions, and with good reason. They represent the direction the industry has moved — and this Midtown rooftop pool is now fully aligned with modern commercial standards.
The Result: A Rooftop Pool That Matches Midtown’s EnergyWhen the Quartz Blue plaster, the shimmering Lightwaves Blue glass tile, the efficient salt system, and the variable-speed pumps all came together, this Midtown rooftop pool emerged as something genuinely special — a polished, high-performance commercial amenity that reflects the character of the neighborhood it sits above.
For the property’s management team, the renovation means reduced operating costs, simplified chemical maintenance, and the confidence that comes from modern, reliable equipment running at peak efficiency. For residents, it means a rooftop experience that feels as elevated as the views — beautiful water, comfortable swimming, and a finish and tile selection that will hold up beautifully for years to come.
Allen Pool Service is proud to bring this level of craftsmanship to Midtown Atlanta’s commercial pool landscape. We understand the unique demands of rooftop and highrise pool environments, and we bring the expertise to deliver renovations that perform as well as they look.
Whether you manage a rooftop pool, a hotel or hospitality facility, a fitness center, or an HOA community pool, Allen Pool Service delivers the commercial renovation expertise your property deserves. Contact us today to get started.
Please call (770) 451-1621 to for pool renovation, service, and winterization by Allen Pool Service in Atlanta.
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