Charlottesville Aquatics has been building pools and selling spas in Central Virginia since 1973. In that time, we’ve earned 175 national design awards, been inducted into the AQUA 100 Hall of Fame as the only local pool company ever honored, and built relationships with clients who have been with us for decades. Fifty years later, that hasn’t changed.
Charlottesville Aquatics was founded in 1973 in Charlottesville, Virginia, by Fred von Lewinski, a Landscape Architecture student at UVA who had spent years managing and repairing pools in the Washington DC area. The company’s first pool was built in 1977 for a UVA professor who decided to take a chance on us. That pool won a design award. It turned out to be the first of many.
In the decades that followed, Charlottesville Aquatics built a reputation that reached well beyond Central Virginia. The company has earned 175 national and regional design awards, been inducted into the AQUA 100 Hall of Fame as the only local pool builder ever honored, and earned a place in the United Aqua Group, an invitation-only network of fewer than 200 pool builders out of more than 10,000 nationwide.
In 1985, a conversation at a swimming pool design awards ceremony led to Charlottesville Aquatics becoming an authorized Hot Spring Spas dealer. CVA sold the first Hot Spring Spa in Charlottesville and has maintained that relationship with Watkins Wellness for over four decades. Some of the clients from those earliest years are still with us today.
A few reasons why homeowners across Central Virginia have been choosing us for over 50 years.
Longevity in Community — We have been serving Central Virginia since 1973. We are a Class A Contractor, licensed and bonded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have served thousands customers over the years, while still offering personalized service. Charlottesville Aquatics is one of the five oldest pool companies in Virginia.
Personal Involvement and Commitment from Owners — Both Fred and his wife, Christine, actively participate in the daily operations of our company. Fred supervises the Construction Department and is consistently on-site for every project. Fred also has personally trained our entire field construction team. Christine acts as General Manager and Supervises Sales, Service, Retail, and Accounting.
Recognized Industry Leader and Pool Building Professional — Our President, Fred von Lewinski, is one of only a handful of Certified Pool Building Professionals in the entire State of Virginia. In fact, he was one of the first in the country to receive this certification. He has served in various capacities, including President of the Board of the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), now known as the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PTHA), for both the Central Virginia Chapter and the region that encompasses Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Local Professional Design — Fred utilizes his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia by combining his knowledge of structural architecture with knowledge of plant characteristics, soil conditions, and hydraulic engineering to design pools that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain. Fred also maintains an Associate Membership with the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Awarded the Top 100 Pool Company in the United States seven times and the only local company to have been inducted into the Aqua 100 Hall of Fame — This award is given to the companies who have consistently maintained superior customer service, product knowledge, store design, quality craftsmanship, advertising, and promotions.
Full Service Company — Our expertise within the industry is multi-faceted. We build both vinyl-lined and concrete residential pools, as well as commercial pools and in-ground spas. We also have a full-service Service Department and an award-winning retail store.
Winner of 175 National and Regional Design and Craftsmanship Awards — Beginning with our first National Design Award in 1979 to our more recent ones. In 2012 we received the Gold Medals for Residential Concrete Pools and Concrete Spas, as well as the prestigious Gordon Rudd Award for the Best In Show.
Charlottesville Aquatics is the Central Virginia member of United Aqua Group — We are part of an exclusive, national, invitation-only society of pool builders who work together to combine knowledge and talents. To be invited to join United Aqua Group, a builder must meet their strict standards for quality construction, strong business ethics, and impeccable reputations. Fewer than 200 out of ten thousand pool builders in our nation have been invited to join United Aqua Group. We have been a member of United Aqua Group since 1988.
Construction Machinery — The most critical stage of swimming pool construction is the excavation stage. We own all of our own equipment and all excavation is done by our own trained employees. Our excavator has a specially designed and manufactured articulating bucket that was built to our specifications to precisely shape and form the inside of your pool.
Seven-Step Critical Path Quality Assurance Program — Over his five decades of professional experience, Fred has developed a Quality Program which enables us to complete your project with astonishing speed and efficiency while still maintaining the highest quality finished product available in our industry.Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with industry associations and earned multiple certifications, reinforcing our dedication to quality and expertise.
AQUA 100 Hall of FameAwarded the Top 100 Pool Company in the United States seven times and the only local company to have been inducted into the Aqua 100 Hall of Fame. This award is given to the companies who have consistently maintained superior customer service, product knowledge, store design, quality craftsmanship, advertising, and promotions.
Texas Pools is proud to receive multiple awards of excellence by the PHTA.
The PHTA International Awards of Excellence honors PHTA members whose pools, spas and water features represent some of the best designs in the industry.
The competition is open only to PHTA member builders, designers, and service and retail firms. Many hundreds of entries are submitted each year, representing member firms from all over the world.
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Examples of services provided by the BBB are Business Reliability Reports, Dispute Resolution, Truth-in-Advertising, Consumer and Business Education and Charity Review.
Certified Building Professional® (CBP)A Certified Building Professional® is an individual who has passed all the rigorous requirements of the PHTA’s Certified Building Professional® training program. Graduates of the course learn the skills and value system pertaining to high ethical standards, commitment to the highest standards of workmanship and construction, business stability, and superior customer relations. After completion of the training, all graduates must complete continuing education requirements on an ongoing basis in order to maintain their CBP® certification.
Charlottesville Aquatics is a proud member of The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce is the leading business organization representing companies across Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The Chamber advocates for a strong local economy, connects businesses across industries, and supports the community that makes this region one of the most recognized small cities in the country.
Charlottesville Aquatics is proud to be a member of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance.
PHTA is the world’s largest association representing swimming pool, hot tub and spa manufacturers, distributors, manufacturers’ agents, designers, builders, installers, supplier, retailers, and service professionals. PHTA offers pool and hot tub education and certification programs, provides valuable membership benefits, develops trusted industry standards and advocates for critical legislation.
PHTA members adhere to a code of ethics in business and technical practices and share a strong commitment to the safe, healthful, and enjoyable use of industry products.
More information at: PHTA – Pool and Hot Tub Alliance
Charlottesville Aquatics is the Central Virginia member of United Aqua Group.
We are part of an exclusive, national, invitation-only society of pool builders who work together to combine knowledge and talents. To be invited to join United Aqua Group, a builder must meet their strict standards for quality construction, strong business ethics, and impeccable reputations. Fewer than 200 out of ten thousand pool builders in our nation have been invited to join United Aqua Group. We have been a member of United Aqua Group since 1988.