YMCA-YWCA West Portage Renovations

Client: YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Size: 47,000sf
Stage: Completed 2015

About
The 47,000 square foot YMCA-YWCA West Portage location is a significant landmark of the area; open to members and visitors 16 hours per day, 364 days a year. Its program offerings are extensive - a fitness centre, gymnasium, a pool, an interior play structure, babysitting services for members, and school-aged and pre-school daycare facilities.

MMP was commissioned in late 2013 to provide an interior refresh to the existing West Portage YMCA-YWCA facility. The primary goal of this refresh was to create a more contemporary and welcoming environment, which would improve the space for current members and increase membership by drawing in a larger clientele. MMP’s role was to provide a design to update the finishes in the existing spaces. Upon re-evaluating the current and future program requirements, this initial refresh project scope evolved into a more intensive interior renovation that addressed the YMCA-YWCA’s brand identity, user and staff functionality, efficiencies in circulation, and overall member experience.

The space required major changes to achieve the above-revised goals; some highlights include the following. A re-oriented lobby space featuring an expansive reception desk aims to minimize queues during peak hours and help staff ensure member security. The relocation of the fitness studio, which hosts various classes offered by the facility, provides a larger, open space flooded with natural daylight. The upgraded locker and shower rooms now feature private change stalls and an increase in the number of lockers.

Upgrades that contribute to the overall user experience include introducing a warm interior palate anchored by stone and wood finishes. Punches of the signature orange-red that brands the space as the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg lead users through space. Wood ceiling canopies and vegetation scattered in planters throughout the fitness area provide both privacy to members watching their children swim in the viewing area and those making use of the fitness facilities. Because the facility experiences such high traffic, the flow of people through the space and quality and durability of finishes are were of prime concern.

In Spring 2015, the centre reopened with its numerous new and exciting features such as a dedicated space for Cyclefit, an expanded free weight area, a new functional training area, a dedicated Youth Zone and more.