Sammamish Community & Aquatic Center

Sammamish, WA
Construction Cost: $29.7 Million
Area / Square Feet: 68,000
Occupancy Date: April 2016

Creating community spaces was among the first priorities for the City of Sammamish after its incorporation. The new Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center creates an iconic community building while preserving views of the Bellevue and Seattle skylines and the majestic Olympic range in the distance.

Owned by the city and operated by the local YMCA, the facility features a variety of public-use areas, including a fitness area on the upper level, all with views to the park. The upper level also extends the existing plaza space to the front door of the new center. The remaining program spaces are located on the lower level with a single control point. The building includes a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, a 3,300-square-foot leisure pool, a spa, two gymnasiums, a jogging track, fitness spaces, group fitness rooms, a family center room, meeting spaces, childcare areas and more.

It was important in the interior design to focus on the partnership between the city and the Y, as well as incorporate the natural setting of the building’s surroundings. Natural elements such as Lake Sammamish and the forest influenced the color palate. The Y’s ideals of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility can be seen throughout the building in the signage, circulation paths, activity zones, and the Y color and imagery.