It’s going to be better, brighter and bigger.
YMCA announced a major overhaul of their Chilliwack location this week, with an aggressive plan for reconstruction. While the construction will require the YMCA to close temporarily next year, they say the modern structure that will follow will be worth it.
The new Chilliwack YMCA will be in the same location, but will expand the current footprint by 25 per cent. That will bring their facility up to 36,700 square feet.
So what will the changes be?
The YMCA says “the eastern side of the building will be demolished and re-built anew while the rest of the Y will be dramatically improved.”
The YMCA will need to close starting July 1, 2017, but during that time, staff will be holding “pop-up” programming and events around Chilliwack for no cost to members. The new YMCA is slated to open in the summer of 2018.
The eastern side of the facility currently includes the gymnasium, racquetball areas, a cardio room, and more. The western side houses the pool and the multipurpose room.
The new plans show an open air concept throughout, with floor to ceiling windows that will showcase views to the north. An atrium and lobby will be added, along with an enhanced entrance way.
Artist’s renderings of the new floor plan show skylights in some of the workout areas, and a dedicated 950 sq. ft. Cyclefit studio.
The new gymnasium will be more than 4,000 sq. feet, and the conditioning floor, 5,700 sq. ft.
There will also be five multipurpose rooms, a family/universal change room with large private changing areas, and an outdoor playground.
While the pool side won’t be demolished, the pool will be renewed. So will the group fitness studio, a stretching/adaptive place, the preschool/childminding area, and pool.
The childminding area will provide access to the outdoor playground. Rooms will be able to flex to fit, shrinking or expanding based on the needs of classes.
