Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA and Early Learning Center

4727 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116 United States

Building Area (sf): 32,500

Completion: April 2023

Architect of Record:

Self + Tucker Architects
Aaron Patrick Architects (Associate Architect)

Juan Self, AIA
Mario Walker, AIA
Victor Robinson
Cameron McLemore
Andrea Jimenez
Edith Washington
Aaron Patrick Campbell
Candace Robinson

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Linkous Construction
• Electrical: Smith Seckman Reid - Engineering
  Ritchie Smith Associates – Landscape Architects
  Gro Dev - Client Rep
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  Steve Austell Photography
  

This replacement facility has transformed an aging, disjointed cluster of outdated buildings into a vibrant hub of health, wellness, and education. The reimagined YMCA in Whitehaven will continue to serve the community for decades to come.

The former Davis YMCA in Whitehaven had been a beloved neighborhood amenity for over 60 years. Built in 1959, the building experienced many additions of varying sizes and architectural styles. This, compounded with decades of continuous use led to a site with fractured connections, severely undersized facilities, and aging infrastructure. Though these challenges began to impact the capacity of programming, visitors held a strong investment in the YMCA due to its outsized impact. Self + Tucker held a personal relationship with the client and building, as the project Lead Designer is a Whitehaven native and spent much of his childhood at the Davis YMCA learning to swim and playing with friends.

Noting the needs of all the YMCA serves, the project team developed the clear vision of a state-of-the-art community resource to serve as an epicenter of healing and community wellness, with a focus on early childhood development, water safety, mental and physical health, and social service programming. Due to the existing conditions, a replacement facility was needed rather than a costly renovation. To this end, every structure except the original midcentury-modern daycare building was demolished.

Collaborating with the YMCA and community stakeholders, our goal was to elevate and refine typical YMCA amenities and sharpen their impact; allowing health-seekers to achieve a wide variety of fitness and personal goals. The new 25,000 sf, two-story addition prioritizes personal connection through expansive community space, a refreshing contemporary exterior, and a colorful, yet clean Scandinavian-inspired interior. Panoramic glazing welcomes outdoor vistas and the community at large into the newly renovated YMCA. These carefully planned designs honor the original midcentury building while boldly advancing the neighborhood’s design aesthetic.

Core uses include a large wellness center, gymnasium, and a light-filled, glass-enclosed pool. A retractable glass roof in the pool area further invites an open-air experience year-round. The use of glass and open-concept spaces around the facility not only maximizes natural lighting but also allows for visibility and transparency throughout the facility.

The need for a holistic family experience led to the innovative reimagining of the daycare into an Early Childhood Education Center. In the 7,000 sf existing building, the facilities were small, dated, and clinical. The new interior experience focused on calming, creative spaces for cross-area play for all ages. Community venues, including multipurpose meeting rooms and Child Watch coupled with a kid’s adventure center foster community togetherness and allow for explorative play.

The development also includes significant ongoing site improvements. A new imaginative playground, a large public art installation, and landscaping create opportunities for recreation both inside and out. A new pool house will soon further enhance the outdoor swimming area and deepen the connected site relationships.

Named in Honor of Whitehaven community leaders, the new Georgette and Cato Johnson YMCA cohesively embodies the YMCA’s holistic approach of spirit, mind, and body through a well-crafted, responsive design to connect the community and nurture the human spirit.