Lee Russell

Lee Russell is a pool industry veteran whose experience spans custom pool construction, outdoor living design and the practical decisions that determine the quality of a finished project. His perspective is rooted in decades of hands-on work and a family history in swimming pools that stretches across three generations.

Russell learned the trade alongside his father and grandfather in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. That foundation shaped an appreciation for craftsmanship and mechanical problem-solving, while his own interest in experimentation led him to explore new materials, techniques and design possibilities. His work has encompassed both contemporary pools and outdoor spaces suited to the traditional architecture of Louisiana homes.

In Pool Magazine’s profile, Russell discussed the creative appeal of construction as well as the realities of managing projects through material shortages and demanding schedules. His later writing for the magazine examines a different kind of pressure: the temptation to compromise construction standards when budgets tighten or clients challenge a price. He emphasizes that the integrity of a pool depends on decisions made long before its structure and systems disappear beneath the finished surface.

Russell has also contributed a builder’s perspective to discussions of water features and specialized pool-edge systems. Across these subjects, his focus connects design ambition with practical execution, accountability and the long-term consequences of the work.