The design character of the Molalla Community Pool includes a welcoming environment and a light feeling to the pool area. Transparency is an important element, allowing for supervision of the building from the main desk area and creating connections from inside to out. The pool area has high windows and clerestories on the west as well as the glazed east wall to provide diffused light throughout the space. Opening the large doors on the east wall and the clerestory windows on the west provides natural ventilation of the space.

The meaning of water was explored in the design through metaphor. The glazing of the east window wall has different levels of transparency representing water bubbles floating up to the surface of the pool, as well as the different ways light is refracted by the water. This also addresses the functional problem of glare on the pool and is designed to be removed when the future leisure pool is built. A public plaza extends from the street to the building with paved and grassy picnic areas with trees to be shared with future tennis courts.