The end to swimming at Augusta State University's Walton Way campus could provide much-needed room for expansion.

A costly leak forced the closure of the university's natatorium, a nondescript brick building toward the rear of campus, in November. The 40-year-old facility had been used by kinesiology classes, continuing education, open swim sessions for students and a short-lived collegiate swim team.

About 3,000 gallons of water slowly seeped through pinholes in the aluminum shell of the pool nightly, Therese Rosier, the assistant vice president for plant operations, said Monday. A liner was installed in 1997 to cover the holes, but it had a 10-year life expectancy, and liners are no longer allowed in public pools, she said.

The decision was made to close the natatorium rather than invest more than $1 million to bring it up to code and seal the leaks, said Kathy Hamrick, the special coordinator for academic and master planning. Considering the need for classroom space, the pool isn't the highest priority. Gov. Sonny Perdue's request to conserve water was also a factor in the decision.

The facility can't be used for storage because it doesn't have air conditioning.

The lack of air conditioning corroded the steel inside the natatorium, weakening the structure's integrity, Ms. Rosier said.

"If we're going to build a new pool, it would make sense to build it at the athletic complex," she said. At one time, the university's gymnasium was near the pool, but athletic facilities are now on the Wrightsboro Road campus.

ASU has begun the lengthy process of demolishing the natatorium, which will require the governor's signature, Dr. Hamrick said. Once it's torn down, the area will be used for green space. Later, it could be the site of an academic building, possibly an expansion of the nearby science building.

Funding has already been requested for the project, she said. But the priority is a $27.5 million academic facility slated for construction in 2012 on Wrightsboro Road.

Augusta State President William A. Bloodworth Jr. has repeatedly said the Walton Way campus is nearing capacity. Although several facilities on the campus are only a few years old, they replaced World War II-era buildings and didn't add capacity to the campus.

ASU College of Education Dean Richard Harrison, who served as swim coach in the 1970s, called the natatorium the "hub of swimming in the CSRA" in its heyday. The second closest indoor competition-length pool was in Columbia.

"It was the end of an era," Dr. Harrison said of the pool's closing. He recalled swim lessons he gave there and athletes he trained to compete nationally.

"I don't know how many people I taught to swim out of that pool," he said.