Koury Natatorium
The Maurice J. Koury Natatorium is the home of the Tar Heel swimming and diving teams. Located on South Campus, adjacent to the Dean Smith Center, the natatorium hosted its first competition on October 31, 1986. The modern facility was a significant improvement for the Tar Heel swim teams over Bowman Gray Memorial Pool, which was built in the 1930s. The state-of-the-art natatorium featured a 1,700-seat grandstand and held over a million gallons of water. The new pool received national attention when it hosted swimming and water polo during the 1987 Olympic Festival. It is named for Maurice J. Koury, an alumnus, major donor, and successful fund-raiser for the university. Koury's ongoing support for the university is marked by the many places his name appears on campus: a residence hall, an auditorium at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, a library in the alumni center, and a building at the UNC School of Dentistry.