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Anchorage Community YMCA in Anchorage, Alaska, had outgrown its original 1978 building. With the support of community members, the organization embarked on a $6 million expansion project, nearly doubling the size of the facility, which serves a growing membership of 5,000 and counting.
The search for a floor that could support a variety of activities, offer long-term durability and require little maintenance while retaining its original appearance led members of the design team to norament® grano. Today, colorful shades of green, orange and blue anchor a design that runs down corridors, through fitness areas, across multi-purpose rooms and up stairways.
Constructed in 1978, the Anchorage Community YMCA in Anchorage, Alaska, was at capacity and showing the wear and tear that comes with a vibrant, well-used community center. The membership included toddlers in child care programs, seniors enrolled in water fitness programs and everyone in between.
Discussions regarding a renovation of the existing space began with a simple plan to improve the aging locker room. From there, the plan grew, adding a second floor to house an expanded wellness center, converting the locker room into a multipurpose space, building a new, larger locker room and addressing accessibility issues. In the end, the $6 million project added 21,000 square feet to the original 28,000-square-foot building, nearly doubling the size of the facility and incorporating lots of natural light and sweeping views of the nearby Chugach Mountains.
The extra space in the expanded facility is filling quickly as membership, currently at just over 5,000 people, is expected to grow to 7,000 by the fall. “Through the course of a month we get close to 12,000 visits, including members and people who use a day pass,” says Larry Parker, Anchorage Community YMCA executive director. “Over a year, we probably see 15,000 different people taking advantage of school age programs, youth and adult sports, fitness and skill programs, swimming lessons and summer youth camps.”
Numbers like this made durability a must-have feature as the YMCA considered flooring options. “We wanted something that was very resilient—able to stand up to heavy foot traffic and physical activity,” says Parker. “But the floor also needed to be a multi-use floor covering that is simple to clean and easy to keep clean.” The YMCA also required a floor covering that offered a long lifespan. “We wanted a floor that’s going to be aesthetically pleasing and functional for 25 or 30 years.”
The search for an appropriate floor covering led the design team to norament® grano, which provided the durability, resilience and simple cleaning regimen the organization sought. As a bonus, the floor offered a colorful palette that wowed the team. “Something we hadn’t really thought of is all the different color combinations that are available,” says Parker. “We started with the floor and brought the different color schemes up into the walls and the tile. It really turned out well.”
The rubber flooring runs down corridors, up stairwells, across multi-purpose rooms and through the fitness area, where it supports a variety of equipment. “We installed about $350,000 worth of new equipment in the fitness room—cardio, weight machines, dumbbells and barbells,” explains Parker. “Everything is brand new, state-of-the-art. Equipment-wise, visual-wise and scenery-wise, it’s probably one of the best wellness centers in the city.”
According to Parker, it’s also fairly quiet, considering all the activity that goes on there. “We have acoustical panels all over the walls and the ceilings, so they work with the floor to contribute to a quiet environment that is so much better than what we had.” Parker is pleased with the look and performance of the floor. “It flows well through the building, and it’s so simple to keep clean. You don’t get stains on it, and it sweeps up easily.” As a result, a planned remodel of the front desk area and a connecting corridor will also feature norament grano. “We’ve seen some of the schematics for that area, and wow, it’s going to be neat.”
“Wow” seems to be a common reaction to the YMCA’s transformation. Says Larry, “I’ve probably given 150 tours in the last six months for members and other people in our community, and everybody’s response has been, ‘Wow!’"
