William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc
Fourth-generation luxury watershape design-build firm in Bethlehem, CT specializing in custom shotcrete swimming pools, spas, and water features for high-net-worth residential clients and commercial aquatic facilities across the Northeast United States, with adjacent consulting and education operations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersBethlehem, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc does
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, LLC is a fourth-generation luxury watershape design-build firm headquartered in Bethlehem, Connecticut, founded in 2000 by William T. Drakeley, Jr. The company designs, builds, renovates, and services custom concrete swimming pools, spas, and water features for high-net-worth residential clients and commercial aquatic facilities across Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. Its technical core is shotcrete application for pool shells and water-holding structures, using both wet-mix and dry-mix placement techniques with in-house control over layout, excavation, forming, steel, plumbing, and shotcrete work, subcontracting only plaster. Bill Drakeley, the founder, holds unique industry credentials as the only pool builder who is a Voting Member of American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 506 Shotcrete and Chairman of the ACI Pool Shotcrete Subcommittee, and the firm is the only pool contractor named an American Shotcrete Association (ASA) Qualified Shotcrete Contractor.
The business generates revenue through three streams: project-based custom construction and renovation contracts (typically exceeding $100,000 per project), a recurring service and maintenance division covering weekly cleanings, seasonal openings/closings, and repairs, and commercial consulting delivered through the sister firm Drakeley Industries for facility design, engineering, and compliance work. Customer segments are high-end residential homeowners and commercial clients including schools, golf clubs, and public aquatic facilities. Distribution is direct-to-consumer, relying on architectural and landscape architectural partnerships, industry reputation, editorial coverage in publications such as Architectural Digest and Luxury Pools Magazine, and a sustained award track record from ASA, NESPA, and Houzz.
Adjacent to the core pool business, Bill Drakeley co-founded Watershape University in August 2019, an IACET-accredited educational institution offering credentialed instruction in watershape design, engineering, and construction, and co-founded the Live Blue Foundation. The firm operates as a private family-owned LLC with no disclosed institutional investment, employs between 11 and 50 people, and continues to add technical and commercial staff, with the most recent additions including a licensed professional engineer as design engineer in 2022 and a dedicated sales and marketing associate in 2023.
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc
- Legal name
- Drakeley Pool Company, LLC
- Website
- https://www.drakeleypools.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fourth-generation luxury watershape design-build firm in Bethlehem, CT specializing in custom shotcrete swimming pools, spas, and water features for high-net-worth residential clients and commercial aquatic facilities across the Northeast United States, with adjacent consulting and education operations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Pool Construction Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Features (Ponds, Fountains & Waterfalls) (HSAPALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pool Opening & Seasonal Startup (HSAIALAD), Pool Closing & Winterization (HSAIALAE), Equipment Installation & Upgrades (Automation, Covers, Sanitizers) (HSAIALAJ), Pool Draining, Refill & Water Exchange Services (HSAIALAK)
Keywords
Where William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bethlehem
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Pool Construction and Renovation: Custom luxury swimming pool, spa, and water feature design and construction services for high-end residential and commercial clients. Projects include new construction and major renovations using shotcrete methodology.
- Service and Maintenance: Comprehensive service division providing weekly cleanings, pool openings and closings, winter maintenance programs, and ongoing care for swimming pools, spas, and water features.
- Commercial Consulting: Consulting services through Drakeley Industries for commercial facility design, development, and construction of water features. Includes design/engineering services and construction oversight.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom luxury pool construction - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company designs, builds, renovates, and services custom concrete pools, spas, and water features for high-end residential and commercial clients in the Northeast United States. The firm specializes in shotcrete application for pool shells and offers specialty designs including vanishing edges, perimeter overflows, acrylic panels, and custom glass tile work. It also provides ongoing pool maintenance, seasonal openings/closings, equipment repair, and commercial facility consulting through sister firm Drakeley Industries.
Product overview
Drakeley Pool Company is a fourth-generation luxury watershape design and construction firm offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on custom swimming pool and spa design, construction, and renovation. The company's core offerings include high-end residential and commercial pool construction, full-service maintenance and repair divisions, and specialized shotcrete application services. Their portfolio spans specialty designs including vanishing edges, perimeter overflows, acrylic panels, Lautner edges, and custom glass tile work. The company also provides commercial facility consulting and design services, plus industry education through Watershape University. All services are delivered by in-house teams with the company only subcontracting plaster work, ensuring complete control over quality from excavation through final finish.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Swimming Pool Design & Construction High-end custom residential swimming pool design and construction services, featuring specialty designs including vanishing edges, perimeter overflows, acrylic panels, and custom tile work for luxury homes in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.
- Commercial Pool Design & Construction Commercial facility water feature design, development, and construction services including health department compliance, ADA/FINA/NCAA requirements, and comprehensive project management from consulting through startup.
Companies that use William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Watershape UniversitycoreCo-founded by Bill Drakeley and David J. Peterson in August 2019, Watershape University provides professional education and credentialing for the pool, spa, aquatics, and outdoor living industries. The company leverages Watershape University for industry education and thought leadership positioning.
- Drakeley IndustriescoreSister consulting firm led by Bill Drakeley, specializing in shotcrete applications and providing training for major infrastructure projects including NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority subway tunneling, Washington DC First Street Tunnel, and Hudson River Water Tunnel projects.
- American Shotcrete Association (ASA)coreBill Drakeley served as President of ASA. The company is the only pool contractor named an ASA Qualified Shotcrete Contractor. ASA qualification is active for five years and requires ongoing compliance with ASA standards and Code of Conduct.
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)coreBill Drakeley is the first and only pool builder to sit as a Voting Member on ACI Committee 506 Shotcrete. He serves as Chairman of the ACI Pool Shotcrete Subcommittee, actively participating in developing industry standards and guidelines.
- Hayward IndustriesminorWatershape University conducted in-person C2111 Essential Pool Construction Workshop at Hayward Industries facility in Clemmons, NC in September 2020.
- Live Blue FoundationminorNon-profit organization established in partnership with Wallace 'J' Nichols, author of 'Blue Mind.' Foundation provides grants to organizations implementing 'Blue Mind' concept - using water to improve well-being.
- International Watershape Institute (IWI)coreElite group of accomplished instructors and students from Watershape University providing coaching and outreach. The company and its team members are members of IWI.
- Genesis 3minorBill Drakeley previously served as Deputy Director of Education and concrete specialist at Genesis 3 before co-founding Watershape University.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California Pools & Landscape: Large custom luxury pool and landscape design-build firm serving affluent residential clients in Southern California with a similar high-end project-based model and design-build integration. Direct comparable to Drakeley in business model and price tier, though operating in a different regional market.
- Premier Pools & Spas: National network of custom pool builders focused on residential design and construction across multiple U.S. markets. Comparable to Drakeley in core offering (custom concrete pools) and target customer (upper-middle to luxury residential), but with broader geographic reach and franchise-style scale.
- Lucas Lagoons: Custom luxury pool and outdoor living builder in Florida with a strong design-led, high-end residential focus and brand visibility. Directly comparable to Drakeley in target customer segment and premium design-build approach.
- River Pools & Spas: Custom pool builder/manufacturer focused on residential pools (predominantly fiberglass) with national reach and content-driven marketing. Comparable to Drakeley in serving discerning residential customers seeking custom-built pools, though construction method (fiberglass vs. shotcrete concrete) differs.
Regional players
- Claffey Pools: Long-established custom pool builder serving the Dallas-Fort Worth luxury residential market with design-build services. Comparable to Drakeley in custom luxury positioning and project complexity, but operates in a different geography (Texas vs. Northeast).
Others
- Hayward Industries: Major manufacturer of pool equipment, pumps, filters, and automation products serving pool builders and service companies. Mentioned as a Watershape University workshop partner; adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Pentair: Global pool equipment and water treatment manufacturer with a broad portfolio across residential and commercial pools. Comparable as a major incumbent in the broader pool industry value chain that supplies products and standards used by custom builders like Drakeley.
- Fluidra: International pool and wellness equipment manufacturer (parent of Jandy, Zodiac, AstralPool) serving residential and commercial pool builders globally. A broad incumbent in the pool industry whose products and standards interact with builders like Drakeley.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc social profiles
Digital presenceWilliam T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc
What does William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc do?
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company designs, builds, renovates, and services custom concrete pools, spas, and water features for high-end residential and commercial clients in the Northeast United States. The firm specializes in shotcrete application for pool shells and offers specialty designs including vanishing edges, perimeter overflows, acrylic panels, and custom glass tile work. It also provides ongoing pool maintenance, seasonal openings/closings, equipment repair, and commercial facility consulting through sister firm Drakeley Industries.
Is William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc a public or private company?
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc founded?
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc based?
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc is headquartered in Bethlehem, United States, in the North America region.
How does William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pool Construction and Renovation is the primary driver. The others are service and Maintenance and commercial Consulting.
Who are William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California Pools & Landscape, Premier Pools & Spas, Lucas Lagoons and River Pools & Spas. Claffey Pools is listed as a regional player. Hayward Industries is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Pentair and Fluidra.
Does William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc have an API?
No public API is recorded for William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc.
What industry is William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc in?
William T. Drakeley Swimming Pool Company, Llc's product category is Custom Pool Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAPALAJ, Water Features (Ponds, Fountains & Waterfalls), with a secondary code of HSAIALAD, Pool Opening & Seasonal Startup.