ELS renovated and expanded the Downtown Berkeley YMCA, a local historic landmark built in 1910. An intermediate floor was added to the existing two-story gymnasium, creating program space for a new youth and family center—the 2,800-square foot addition provides an interactive wellness for youths 8 to 13 years old, and a family fitness classroom for circuit training and group exercise. The renovation opened up the floor plan of the facility, allowing existing windows to bring natural light to the interior of the building. Various finishes, the product of previous remodels, were removed, revealing brick, concrete, wood floor joists, and structural steel. The result provided additional floor space featuring a rich palette of exposed structural materials and accent colors. Energy-efficient lighting controlled by daylight and motion sensors, as well as efficient HVAC systems, were installed as part of the renovation, which is LEED Gold-certified.

Awards

Berkeley Architectural Heritage Award