The first major improvement work since the Princeton building was built in 1958
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
While their missions are different, they share the same overall goal.
And that is why the local YMCA and YWCA are working together to achieve a lofty objective a $1 million renovation to their shared complex on Paul Robeson Place.
According to Princeton Family YMCA Chief Executive Officer Kate Story and YWCA Princeton Chief Executive Officer Judith Hutton, the building is in dire need of an upgrade.
"We haven’t done a major renovation since it was built in 1958," Ms. Hutton said. "We’ve made the commitment, both Kate and I, to stay in this location and now we have to renovate it."
Renovations to the athletic building, to be funded through a donation campaign, will include a new, state-of-the-art dance studio, upgraded locker rooms, a transformation of the basement-level workout room and various interior adjustments to make the facility more user-friendly.
"It’s going to be very modern," Ms. Hutton said.
Groundbreaking for the project, which will take about 15 weeks to complete, is expected in early 2007.
And when it’s done, things will be "easier, better and more efficient," Ms. Story said, adding that there will be "better space, better flow."
While the changes won’t necessarily be noticeable from the street, members are sure to appreciate the major touch-ups, which will also include an elevator and a glass observation area surrounding the gym.
"We’re making it much more of a family-friendly place," Ms. Hutton said. For example, one of the features of the new building will be the addition of a family locker room.
Ms. Story said current members seem excited about the remodeling, which was first proposed as a result of a needs assessment administered individually by both the YMCA and the YWCA.
"I think our membership, across the board, is so excited about the renovation," Ms. Story said.
Over the years, the two organizations have updated and upgraded their individual spaces, but this renovation to the joint facility is the first major project the YMCA and YWCA have tackled together. "That’s why this is so important to us," Ms. Hutton said.
Through the individual needs assessment procedures, the YMCA and YWCA discovered they had a lot of the same demands. So the organizations decided to address those needs together.
"We really felt it was time to do some upgrading," Ms. Hutton said. "And we knew it really needed to be a joint effort."
The dance studio which will provide the capacity for 32 more classes, including dance, yoga and pilates along with the improved workout area that lends itself to "circuit training," a model based on various stations, will allow members more opportunities for personalized fitness and wellness, according to Ms. Story.
The improvements "really will reflect the changing demographic much better," Ms. Story said.
Ms. Hutton pointed out that fitness needs today are much more complex than decades ago when the facility was originally built.
"There’s much more wellness going on," Ms. Hutton said.
The overhaul of the athletic building is just the first phase in a multi-pronged project to allow the YMCA and YWCA to accommodate a growing customer base there are about 7,000 YWCA members and about 5,000 YMCA members.
The organizations are also aiming to expand their program building, located closer to Route 206.
"We’re looking at how to increase program space," Ms. Hutton said. To do so, the YMCA and YWCA may consider options such as expanding, adding a floor or tearing down the existing building to start from scratch.
As the University Medical Center at Princeton prepares for a move to Plainsboro, the Regional Planning Board of Princeton has been considering the future of the site of the Merwick Rehab Hospital & Nursing Care facility, located adjacent to the YMCA-YWCA properties. Planning officials have said the Merwick and YMCA-YWCA properties, along with Princeton University’s Stanworth Apartments, should be considered together when determining the future of that area.
No decision has been made by the Planning Board regarding the Master Plan or the future of the sites.
But one thing is for sure: "We love this site and we don’t ever envision leaving this site," Ms. Story said. "This is the heart of Princeton,"
Ms. Story said the complex’s proximity to the Arts Council of Princeton building, which is currently undergoing a major renovation, and the new Princeton Public Library "is really exciting."
Ms. Hutton added, "It’s a good time to be here."