Creating Palaces for the People
Our Strategy for Investing in our Facilities
OUR COMMITMENT
Our renovation and improvement projects represent our strategic commitment to our members and the communities we serve.
These improvements help us continue our mission of strengthening communities, improving lives, and fostering a spirit of inclusion, connection and environmental stewardship, and demonstrates how the YMCA of Greater Boston remains a trusted, vital resource for all those we serve.
“By investing in both the physical and environmental sustainability of our YMCA of Greater Boston centers, we are ensuring they remain welcoming, accessible, and functional for generations to come.”
– Helio Rosa, Vice President, Facilities
OUR STRATEGY
The YMCA of Greater Boston has launched a comprehensive facilities investment strategy aimed at strengthening our infrastructure, enhancing member experiences, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
These strategic renovation and improvement projects represent significant capital commitments to address critical deferred maintenance, modernize our facilities, and create inclusive, high-quality spaces that meet the evolving needs of our communities.
They are also aligned with our environmental goals to reduce our carbon footprint and comply with green building standards and operate at NetZero carbon emissions.
Each initiative is thoughtfully designed to enhance the YMCA of Greater Boston’s role as a modern, vital community asset, and environmental steward positioning us for continued growth and relevance in the years ahead.
“When someone says they found a home at the Y, or say they found community or their fitness or their child made a first-time connection with a peer or adult and felt understood – this is the Y movement building palaces for the people.”
– David Shapiro, CEO
YMCA de Burbank
Expanded weight room, expanded Child Watch and exterior play area renovation.
Total Investment: $270K
- Renovated the weight room area to add additional area for members to work out, renovated the first floor to increase space to add functionality for different age groups and utilized the abandoned splash pad to create a large, secure play area for young members.
Camp Wakanda in Boxford, MA
Site and road improvements.
Total Investment: $400K
- Grading, drainage and site improvements to provide higher level of safety, capacity and accessibility for vehicles and campers while addressing long term erosion issues.
YMCA de Dorchester
Fitness Center Expansion and New Roofs that were funded through the generosity of Early Education and Out of School Time Capital Fund.
Total Investment: $600K
- This expansion creates a more functional fitness space, addressing an equity gap, while the new roof addresses deferred maintenance and ensures facility longevity.
YMCA de East Boston
New Roof Restoration.
Total Investment: $125K
- Part of the roof replacement program, this restoration ensures long-term durability and prepares the facility for future solar energy projects.
New Hampshire Overnight Camps
Dining Hall Addition, New Bathrooms, and Fire Protection Upgrades
Total Investment: $1.2 Million
- The new dining hall meets occupancy and capacity needs, addresses fire safety concerns, and enhances accessibility for campers.
Oak Square YMCA
Locker Room Renovation, New Pool Roof and our New Dehumidification System that was made possible by the generosity of George I. Alden Trust.
Total Investment: $1.7 Million
- This project addresses urgent maintenance issues, modernizing the locker rooms and ensuring long-term functionality with upgraded systems and a new roof.
YMCA de Roxbury
Welcome Center Renovation
Total Investment: $350K through the generosity of the Yawkey Foundation.
- A modernized entrance enhances the first impression of the facility, improving member experience, community engagement creating a welcome sense of belonging.
Waltham YMCA
Universal Locker Room Renovation and New Dehumidification System
Total Investment: $1.3 Million
- Repurposing underutilized space, this renovation provides a universal/family locker room to meet the needs of Waltham’s growing family demographic and ensures the aquatics center’s long-term viability.
Wang YMCA de Chinatown
New HVAC Fan Coil Units
Total Investment: $450K
- Replacement of existing fan coil units, serving our childcare spaces, that were over 20 years old and beyond their useful life.
Check back here regularly to see current and future investments!
Greater Boston Collaborative
Food Access Hub
The Y’s Hunger Prevention program has a new home and an expanded role in a 26,700 square foot warehouse complete with state-of-the-art expansive refrigeration at 30 Northampton Street in Roxbury.
Total Partner Investment from the City of Boston and Mass General Brigham: $2.5 Million
- The Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub, with large scale cold storage, will address food insecurity at a larger scale by building on what currently exists in Boston. It will advance well-being by providing fresh, nutritious, and affordable food by having the ability to keep perishable, culturally relevant items in stock for distribution handling
- The hub is centrally located near the Greater Boston Food Bank and food-insecure neighborhoods and highways making it an ideal location for rescued food distribution ensuring that edible food does not go to waste.
Greater Boston Collaborative
Food Access Hub
The Y’s Hunger Prevention program has a new home and an expanded role in a 26,700 square foot warehouse complete with state-of-the-art expansive refrigeration at 30 Northampton Street in Roxbury.
Total Partner Investment from the City of Boston and Mass General Brigham: $2.5 Million
- The Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub, with large scale cold storage, will address food insecurity at a larger scale by building on what currently exists in Boston. It will advance well-being by providing fresh, nutritious, and affordable food by having the ability to keep perishable, culturally relevant items in stock for distribution handling
- The hub is centrally located near the Greater Boston Food Bank and food-insecure neighborhoods and highways making it an ideal location for rescued food distribution ensuring that edible food does not go to waste.
Greater Boston Collaborative
Food Access Hub
The Y’s Hunger Prevention program has a new home and an expanded role in a 26,700 square foot warehouse complete with state-of-the-art expansive refrigeration at 30 Northampton Street in Roxbury.
Total Partner Investment from the City of Boston and Mass General Brigham: $2.5 Million
- The Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub, with large scale cold storage, will address food insecurity at a larger scale by building on what currently exists in Boston. It will advance well-being by providing fresh, nutritious, and affordable food by having the ability to keep perishable, culturally relevant items in stock for distribution handling
- The hub is centrally located near the Greater Boston Food Bank and food-insecure neighborhoods and highways making it an ideal location for rescued food distribution ensuring that edible food does not go to waste.
YMCA of Greater Boston Association-Wide Decarbonization Implementation
Total Investment: $250K
- To comply with the Boston BERDO law (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure) which aims to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by large buildings in the city by requiring NetZero carbon emissions by 2050, we’ve begun sustainability efforts with heat pumps and energy-efficient systems at multiple locations.
- Although only 7 of our Boston locations fall under Boston’s BERDO law, we have a strategic vision to comply with all thirteen of our centers. These projects strategically enhance our YMCA facilities, ensuring they are protecting our environment and enhancing sustainability.
- Centers updated in 2024: Oak Square YMCA, Charles River YMCA, Burbank YMCA and North Suburban YMCA
YMCA of Greater Boston Association-Wide Decarbonization Implementation
Total Investment: $250K
- To comply with the Boston BERDO law (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure) which aims to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by large buildings in the city by requiring NetZero carbon emissions by 2050, we’ve begun sustainability efforts with heat pumps and energy-efficient systems at multiple locations.
- Although only 7 of our Boston locations fall under Boston’s BERDO law, we have a strategic vision to comply with all thirteen of our centers. These projects strategically enhance our YMCA facilities, ensuring they are protecting our environment and enhancing sustainability.
- Centers updated in 2024: Oak Square YMCA, Charles River YMCA, Burbank YMCA and North Suburban YMCA
YMCA of Greater Boston Association-Wide Decarbonization Implementation
Total Investment: $250K
- To comply with the Boston BERDO law (Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure) which aims to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by large buildings in the city by requiring NetZero carbon emissions by 2050, we’ve begun sustainability efforts with heat pumps and energy-efficient systems at multiple locations.
- Although only 7 of our Boston locations fall under Boston’s BERDO law, we have a strategic vision to comply with all thirteen of our centers. These projects strategically enhance our YMCA facilities, ensuring they are protecting our environment and enhancing sustainability.
- Centers updated in 2024: Oak Square YMCA, Charles River YMCA, Burbank YMCA and North Suburban YMCA
YMCA of Greater Boston Facilities Investment Strategy
The YMCA of Greater Boston has launched a comprehensive strategy to strengthen infrastructure, improve member experiences, and ensure long-term sustainability. This includes significant renovations, addressing deferred maintenance, modernizing facilities, and aligning with environmental goals such as achieving NetZero carbon emissions and reducing our carbon footprint.
These projects address critical deferred maintenance, outdated systems, and safety concerns that have developed over time. By making these improvements, we ensure that our YMCA centers remain safe, functional, and welcoming to all members for many years to come.
The renovations are designed with our members in mind. Key improvements include modernizing locker rooms, expanding fitness areas, creating more family-friendly spaces, and ensuring that the facilities meet the diverse and evolving needs of our community members.
The YMCA of Greater Boston is focused on upgrading critical systems (like dehumidification and roofs), implementing energy-efficient solutions such as heat pumps, and complying with green building standards. These upgrades will reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency, ensuring our facilities remain functional and sustainable for years.
Our renovations are aligned with our environmental goals to minimize our carbon footprint. We aim to operate our buildings at NetZero carbon emissions by incorporating sustainable, energy-efficient technologies, and meeting or exceeding green building standards.
Yes, each renovation project is thoughtfully designed to address the specific needs of the communities we serve. For example, the universal locker room at the Waltham YMCA provides a family-friendly space, and the fitness center expansion in Dorchester aims to address an equity gap in access to high-quality fitness facilities.
The renovations are focused on making YMCA facilities more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for all. This includes creating spaces that accommodate a diverse range of people, from family-friendly areas to improvements that make facilities easier to navigate for individuals with different needs.
While some facilities may experience temporary closures or disruptions during certain phases of renovation, we are committed to minimizing the impact on our members. Specific timelines and details will be communicated to members as the projects progress.
By modernizing and improving our facilities, we ensure that the YMCA continues to serve as a vital, trusted community resource. These projects support our mission of strengthening communities, improving lives, and fostering inclusion, connection, and environmental stewardship.
The Y of Greater Boston’s food distribution center comprised of a 26,700 square foot warehouse complete with state-of-the-art expansive refrigeration at 30 Northampton Street in Roxbury.
The “hub” will address food insecurity at a larger scale by building on what currently exists in Boston. It will advance well-being by providing fresh, nutritious, and affordable food by having the ability to keep perishable, culturally relevant items in stock for distribution handling
The hub is centrally located near the Greater Boston Food Bank and food-insecure neighborhoods and highways making it an ideal location for rescued food distribution ensuring that edible food does not go to waste.
These renovation and sustainability efforts position the YMCA of Greater Boston for continued growth and relevance. By expanding and investing in our facilities now, we are ensuring that they remain functional, welcoming, and capable of meeting the needs of our communities for generations to come.
