Heinrich YMCA gets make over

A three-phase renovation is under way on the Bill and Lillie Heinrich YMCA at 4141 Meadows Lane, just west of Valley View Boulevard in Las Vegas. The project's cost is $7 million.

"We began discussing this project in July 2002 when we talked about what the focus of the YMCA in Southern Nevada should be. We did a year of research, and we surveyed our customers' needs and the needs of the neighborhood," Mike Lubbe, president and chief executive of YMCA of Southern Nevada, said.

A new outdoor aquatic center is included in the first phase of the renovation.

"We began construction of the aquatic center in February, and we plan to open on June 1," Lubbe said. "The center will have a water slide, a lap pool and a fun pool. It will also have a snack shop and a bathhouse. The outdoor pool will be open to the public, and we will charge $2 for children and $3 for adults."

Also included in the first phase are a new parking lot and playground.

Phase two is an upgrade of the existing 72,000-square-foot building, which opened in 1981. It, too, is scheduled for completion this summer.

"In phase two, we will move the exercise equipment from the first floor to a new 3,500-square-foot wellness area on the second floor. There will also be a walking track, and an aerobics exercise area for group classes like step aerobics, yoga and kick boxing. What will be nice about it is that it will have a wood spring-loaded floor," Lubbe said.

"We will also be expanding our gymnasium area into the existing exercise area, so we can expand our youth and adult sports leagues along with our summer and track break camps."

Phase three, which entails the remodel of the building's first floor, is slated to begin in September with completion expected in March 2005. The locker rooms, main entrance, lobby and indoor pools will be updated, and the game area, children's gym and computer lab will be moved. A special needs locker room, as well as a climbing wall will be added.

John Lopeman of JMA Architecture Studios is the project architect. His goal, he said, is to add "a little more life" to the building.

"There will be an updated color palette. It will be a desert palette that consists of earth tones and some vibrant jewel tones as accents," Lopeman said.

The renovation is funded through donations and grants, according to Lubbe.

"We have raised $6.5 million in pledges and grants. We received a $3.5 million grant from the city of Las Vegas and a $1 million gift from the Lillie Heinrich family. We also received funding from private parties and local hotel and casino properties," he said, pointing out that everything has been "business as usual" at the YMCA during construction.

"We have been able to keep the facility open by juggling the available space and sharing program space so that we haven't had any closures during the construction."

The general contractor for the first phase is Martin-Harris Construction, while Adobe Construction is handling phase two. A general contractor for the final phase has yet to be named.

The Southern Nevada YMCA also operates the city of Las Vegas' Durango Hills Community Center and its outdoor pool at 3521 N. Durango Drive in the northwestern valley. The agency also offers programs at various schools and community centers valleywide.

Until late last year, the Bill and Lillie Heinrich YMCA was known as the William Bennett YMCA.

Real Estate home