East Side YMCA

YMCA of Greater Erie

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CLIENT GOALS

The existing fitness center, located in the basement, was disconnected from the main facility and was not properly accessible. Moving the fitness center into a more appropriate setting with natural lighting and transparency to create a vibrant and inspirational area of the YMCA was crucial. An interiors update was necessary to address the dated and congested lobby and circulation pathways. To serve the east side community, space was needed to support the Early Head Start partnership program. This program brings together and combines the strengths of child care and Early Head Start programs.

SOLUTIONS

Both the facilities master plan and first phase design have been completed to create a new 6,000 GSF state-of-the-art fitness center. The fitness center addition is located adjacent to the free weight room and locker rooms and includes areas for stretching, cardio equipment, selectorized equipment, and functional training equipment. WMF worked closely with Precor, the YMCA’s fitness equipment vendor to coordinate the design of the space with the desired fitness equipment.

The space incorporates a vaulted ceiling that soars upward towards a wall of glass for views to the exterior and outdoor pool area. The project also includes a partially covered outdoor exercise patio, and lobby renovations. The interior design aesthetic incorporates many of the YMCA’s newly developed branding graphics and colors.

To address the need for the Early Head Start program, a separate facility was constructed on the YMCA campus.

RESULTS

“Last week a member of our National YMCA Leadership Team visited Erie from Colorado and I took him on a tour of our YMCAs. He was very impressed with our facilities and stated that he would put our YMCAs up against some of the best YMCAs in the country. I was very proud to show him some of our recent renovation projects we completed and the impact those projects are having on the lives of some of our members. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your team for the impact your architectural firm has had on the YMCA and the people we serve. Your commitment to excellence, your ability to listen to input from our volunteers and staff as well as the ability to bring the right group of people together to produce superior designs cannot be matched.”

Gerry Vandemerwe
Chief Executive Officer

YMCA of Greater Erie