The building is on a three-acre lot subdivided from a 10-acre educational campus in the Edenwald section of the Bronx. The wooded lot was a rarity in New York’s dense urban environment. Understanding the impact a new building would have on this previously untouched natural space, the YMCA and architect Marvel Designs wanted to bring the outdoors into their building and connect the community to nature. Gilbane served as a partner in fulfilling that goal.
Unique Natural Materials Used
The materials used are representative of the design vision to bring natural design elements into its architecture. When inside the building, it can be seen how the design team focused on bringing wood and timber elements into the space. Wood ceilings were installed throughout the lobby, main corridor, and pool viewing lounge, bringing the area to life and leading to a unique space in New York. The Aquatic Center rafters and decking are southern yellow pine laminate timber beams and decking called glulam, which only recently came into use in the city. Familiar to most from their use in park pavilions and similar construction, these elements are uniquely suited for use inside the chlorine-rich environment that a pair of swimming pools can create: the wood will not corrode or decay when exposed to the atmosphere inside of the pool. In addition, the decking serves as a finished ceiling, roof structure, and roof substrate all in one.
While installing laminate timber beams and decking may take longer than installing cast-in-place concrete or a slab on metal deck, it has the advantage of never needing revisiting after installation. Once the decking is down, it is finished and ready to receive a roof. This was a huge benefit to the project team. The high ceiling of the aquatic center and its span over the pools below would have made installation of ceiling finishes extremely difficult and costly. Instead, the team was able to install the decking with the knowledge that there was no need for further finishing at height.
The design also incorporated other unique elements. Corten, weathered steel panels, which camouflage new buildings in wooded spaces and is the primary façade element. Kalwall, unitized translucent façade panels, provides a lighthouse effect at the tops of the gymnasium, main pavilion, and aquatic center spaces when viewed at night. The combination of these elements, the laminate timber, Corten, and Kalwall, helped to create a building that beckons those around it with its light while somehow blending into the natural motif around it.
All unique materials required precise handling and care. The Corten steel was extremely sensitive to human touch because of the effect that oils could have on the material. The project team tracked the panels daily and worked closely with the manufacturers and architect to treat the panels while they aged before final installation. The installation of roofing protection quickly followed the Corten installation as the building was not yet enclosed.
Tree Protection and Vision
When walking down the hallway, users inside the building have unencumbered views of 28- to 80-foot-tall trees maintained throughout the project’s construction on either side. Those same trees are visible from the sidewalk. The full-height glazing on either side of the main corridor provides a clear view of a large Northern Pin Oak and allows users and passers-by to see the natural world around them.
Colloquially referred to as the Specimen Tree, this Northern Pin Oak’s silhouette was emblazoned on plaques that were integrated into the steel fence surrounding the educational campus.
Identification and protection of these trees were integral to the project’s success. Jonathan Marvel, founding principal of Marvel Designs, walked the site himself and identified the trees he wished to keep. Gilbane protected and maintained all trees throughout the project. Through consultation with an independent arborist, the Gilbane team provided clear protection requirements and kept the trees’ integrity. Gilbane provided every contractor with a site layout that identified tree protection areas during the bid process. The project team developed scopes that identified tree protection responsibility and schedule.
While it is technically a single building, the structure of the YMCA can be more accurately described as four independent spaces connected by a central spine: users can enter at the Lobby and advance through the central corridor to the Main Pavilion, Aquatic Center, Locker Rooms, or Gymnasium.
To learn more about this community-changing project, read our project writeup and press release about the YMCA’s opening.
