YMCA is located at 6400 Habersham St, Savannah, Georgia 314o5. Habersham Street is not is mainly filled with residential houses with department stores . YMCA has a competitor at Abercorn street; The Memoral Day School Day Care since YMCA also has a huge department of child day care.
SUN DIAGRAM Most of the sunlight passes through the South West side of the building. This means all the departments located on the South West side will aquire the most sunlight through the windows. Summer Season
Winter Season
Aluminum exterior signage Pre-cast coping Smooth surface
Brick veneer
Pre-finished metal coping
Eifs system
Pre-cast coping
Aluminum storefront
Pre-finished metal Brick veneer
WINDOW TREATMENTS YMCA has two types of windows, 6 blocks and 9 blocks. They have a grid system for either security reasons or for funcational reasons.
Recessed
Eifs system Pre-finished metal Brick veneer
Eifs system
BUILDING ENVELOPE The height of the building varies throughout, as you can see, it has different types of ceilings flat and with arches. YMCA building heights vary from 14 feet to 16 feet.
CONCEPT PHILOSOPHY The project maximizes connectivity with horizontal transparency and vertical continuity with a double height space that brings together each member of the YMCA family. The new main entrance offers easily navigated paths to all activities for people young and old to connect, support and energize each other. Larger windows and open views between childcare, fitness and garden creates a sense of unity and connection. Vibrant color palatte joins zones to serve as a way-finding.
FLOORPLAN
NAME: ECLECTIC COLOR: NATURE TYPE: RUBBER
Second Floor First Floor
NAME: WALNUT COLOR: BROWN TYPE: WOOD
HERMAN MILLER FURNITURE
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
EUREKA
NAME: SWITCH LAMP: LED
EUREKA
NAME: ODEON LAMP: LED
The task was to choose three exisiting or new departments/programs of YMCA. I decided to choose two exisiting programs and designed two innovative and useful programs for YMCA, reception, childcare, senior lounge and rock climbing wall. Building an addiontal block to the exisiting building allows customer an open space to circulate within the reception and lobby area that leads to other key programs of YMCA. The open space between the two buildings had no connectivity except for a green lawn, hence to incorprate the natural form, I designed a publuc garden where members can communicate with each other and enjoy the nature surrounded with trees and plants.
RECEPTION WAITING AREA Minimal furniture and lighting suggests open space and movement. It’s crucial to have circulation at the reception because members exit and enter from here. Large panels of windows encourages and invites non-members to step into the space. The other half of the reception is a waiting area for members or parents to sit and wait. Having a horizontal glass panel motivates members to have a healthy life and brings in connectivity from different zones of YMCA.
CORRIDOR SENIOR LOUNGE The corridor engages with the fitness room by having rectangular windows allowing members to see through and interact with other members. The other wall has motivational posters to remind and encourage every member about their spirit and motivations. This corridor is leads to the senior lounge. The senior lounge is the central hub of YMCA as the space allows members of different age to feel connected and engaged. The usage of bright colours expresses a lively, energetic mood for all age and gender.
LOBBY GARDEN The first image is a rendering of the second floor lift lobby, as soon as you get out of the elevator you will see face a row of gym machines, a mini lounge, and a continuous climbing wall. There are two doors leading to different programs of YMCA. The far end door leads to a rooftop juice bar and the second door leads to indoor activities such as, basketball, pole dancing, surf boarding and a spinning room. The second iimage is a rendering of the garden that has pathway which connect two YMCA building together. It allows interactions with different members of the club and some peaceful time with the access of natural light.
CHILDCARE KITCHEN PLAYROOM The first image is a rendering of the childcare kitchen. Programs are divided yet looking spacious and playful for the kids. Transparent panels show connectivity with different activities. Furnitures are warm, comfortable, and safe. Glass doors and windows allow rooms to capture sunlight. The second iimage is a rendering of the playroom adjacent to the kithcen. The room is bright, with coloured wallpapres and strong white lighting. A mini garden is positioned in the middle for enough circulation around the room.