Representing a collaborative effort between the YMCA and the local Boys & Girls Club, the newly renovated Fond du Lac YMCA began with the vision of serving children and families in one downtown location. Complementary iconic forms and materials that include glass and metal create a contemporary design in the small urban setting.
The design creates unique entrances and identities for each organization, while blending the two at shared areas of the facility, including the gymnasiums, multipurpose program spaces, and technology and arts studios. Adaptive reuse of existing venues include the renovation of the gym and reuse of the natatorium for the new teen center.
The primary elements of the facility, including the wellness center, gymnasiums and aquatic facilities, are organized off a new central spine that was placed parallel to the existing structure for ease in structural framing. The two-story spine draws in natural light, while also simplifying and ordering the large facility. To introduce natural lighting to all three stories of the building, including the basement, penetrations were made in the floor of the existing main level. The basement level was repurposed to accommodate a suite of group exercise studios.
Contributing to the economical construction of the facility are tilt-up concrete panels used to form larger volumes. Contrasting the neutral color of the tilt-up panels, the design team employed vibrantly colored metal panel systems, with the colors helping to establish the unique identities of each organization.
Ambler Area YMCA
