Photo Credit: Courtesy of Christopher Lark Photography
For more than 120 years, the Blue Water YMCA in Port Huron, Mich., has served the community, providing top-notch programs for a wide range of ages. As one of the first YMCAs in the state, Blue Water was founded in 1886, and has been a fixture in the largest city in Michigan’s “thumb” area ever since. Although sentimentally regarded, the facility was nearly 80 years old, and staff was struggling with building deficiencies, attempting to meet the growing needs of its users. Undersized pools and the old YMCA dormitory-style design did not adequately serve present and future users’ needs. Simply put, the community had outgrown the facility.
As the infrastructure of the aging building continued to decline, the YMCA’s Board of Directors determined that a new structure was a better option than a quick-fix renovation. A new building would provide improved adjacencies and the proper floor space for critical functions, such as those located in pools and gymnasiums. All agreed that a new site would allow for future expansion and accommodate growing parking needs.
The new facility--designed by TMP Architecture in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.--gives the YMCA a state-of-the-art tool to provide even better programming, plenty of space and a stronger commitment to the community. Programs are now housed in a warm and spacious environment on the banks of the St. Clair River. The new facility allows the YMCA to successfully continue its mission to maintain and strengthen a model for healthy choices, the value of community and a sense of place.