DESIGNWORKS 2019

Warlick YMCA

Gastonia, NC

Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

Little (Architect), Little (Landscape Architect), Has & Kennedy (MEP), Fitzpatrick Engineering (Structural), Frank Craig (Civic), Pool Consultant: Pool Design Consultants

Inspired by the beauty of the pastoral landscape, the concept for the new Warlick Family YMCA is driven by two big ideas: Creating a Hearth that brings the community together to facilitate deep connections; and intertwining every moment in the facility with the adjacent serene Robinwood Lake. The power of this project’s design lies in the simple and purposeful organization of its complex programmatic components, turning them from an interior-focused exercise facility to an outdoor-focused ‘home’ for Gastonia’s community that emphasizes wellness, transparency, and warmth while creating a holistic environment for the community to unite, be healthy, linger and learn. Interior wise, the simple circulation diagram of this building is designed for clarity: All programmatic elements are stitched with this linear spine, and transparency allows every space to connect back to the spine. A tremendous effort was conducted to allow every space to connect to the outdoors, whether the lake, the trees, or the surrounding playing fields. This layering of glass and spaces allows the facility to support Well building principles: biophilia-through connectivity to the outdoors and the warm wooden and stone materials, plentiful daylight into all rooms, views from all spaces to the site, encouragement of vertical movement through open and inviting stairwells, use of smart environmental graphics for easy navigation throughout the building, spaces for community connections to reduce isolation and prevent mental strain, and offering healthy snacks are all among the many strategies. Lots of color and branded graphics make the space vibrant and happy.