Studer Community Institute

Planning for downtown YMCA progressing

March 21, 2014
/ Ron Stallcup
/ community-dashboard,economy

PRESS RELEASE -- Progress is being made to bring a new YMCA to downtown Pensacola. The Y’s board of directors recently closed on a land transaction with Quint and Rishy Studer, who contributed a one-acre parcel of land on the southwest corner of Tarragona and Intendencia streets to the organization. his contribution, valued at about $1 million, is in addition to the $5 million already contributed by the Studers toward construction of the facility. With the land deal complete, the YMCA's board moves on to design, fundraising phases for facility, which is expected to break ground later this year. "Now that we have a location and a site secured we can begin to do our planning and designing for the new facility, as well as continuing our fundraising to fund this state-of-the-art building," said Steve Williams, president of the Y’s board of directors. The Y chose local architectural firm Bay Design Associates as the architect for the project. Bay Design will partner with the national design firm of Reynolds, Smith & Hill, which has designed more than 20 new and redeveloped YMCA facilities. The firms were selected after a national request for proposals. A team of Y volunteers, members, board members and supporters interviewed the top three architecture teams. The Y will conduct focus groups with members and the community this spring to discuss the specifics of the building design and programs. Groundbreaking is not expected until late 2014. For more information on programs and classes offered by the Y, and for regular updates or to contribute to the new downtown Y, please visit the Y’s website at www.ymcanwfl.org

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Planning for downtown YMCA progressing

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