In September 2010, Cate School announced the opening of its Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center, one of very few "green" facilities of its kind in US schools.

The "green" design of the Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center places Cate School once again on the cutting edge of campus architecture and construction. Awaiting a  gold LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) certification, the facility has an electrical grid powered by a micro turbine; the heat emitted from this power source is recaptured and used to heat the pool. The center also makes use of building materials from sustainable sources such as recycled roofing and siding, much as did the five Platinum LEED faculty homes built two years ago on Cate's Carpinteria campus. 

Key Green features:

- micro turbine uses natural gas to power the facility
- heat recaptured from micro turbine operation heats the pool
- sustainable materials used for facility, including sustainable roofing products
- no materials moved off site
- low flow and low energy fixtures

Cate’s Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center features a CIF-regulation sized double-deep competition pool for water polo and competitive swimming, a smaller recreational pool, locker and shower facilities, and the Brittingham Family Athletic Training Center to serve the needs of all the school’s athletes through comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Cate School Headmaster Benjamin Williams IV says, “This splendid new aquatic facility will serve our community well for generations to come, even as it exemplifies the kind of high-performance, energy-efficient design that is the hallmark of a sustainable future. This is an outstanding achievement, particularly in comparison with standard, energy-intensive pool facilities."

“Excellent facilities not only attract quality-seeking faculty and applicants, they also help teachers and students to do their best work," says Williams. "Cate’s building and renovation campaign is designed not only to meet immediate needs but also to set the standard for future sustainability."

Other educational uses of the new facility will include swimming instruction, water safety programs, fitness swimming, and beginners' instruction in kayaking and SCUBA diving for any of the 265 students and more than 100 faculty and staff.

The Emmett Horowitz Aquatic Center was designed by architect Larry Clark and constructed by Hartigan-Foley.