This study refers to the history of the Swimming Centre at the School of Physical Education (ESEF) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). As well as its facilities serving as a stage for teaching and research activities, which guide the training of teachers in the Licentiate and Bachelor's Degree courses in Physical Education, many actions and programmes are offered to the community in general through extension projects. The university extension activities developed by the Swimming Centre play an important social role, consolidating the commitment to the three pillars of the university: teaching, research and extension. The Swimming Centre is an important space that contributes a great deal by generating financial resources for the school, but above all because it enables ESEF students to exercise their teaching skills and provides the community in general with an exchange of knowledge, lessons and affection. Because of all this, it is considered an important "space for transformation".