Sewickley Valley YMCA Wellness Center reconstruction project underway

A reconstruction project at the Sewickley Valley YMCA Wellness Center is underway.

Crews from McKeesport-based TBI Contracting are replacing the windows around its track and will be installing a new roof to prevent future leaks.

The estimated $650,000 project began May 22. It’s expected to be completed in three to four months.

The Wellness Center is about 3,500 square feet. It features basketball courts, cardio and free-weight workout spaces as well as a walking/running track.

Its current look features multiple windows that also served as a roof around the track to let as much natural light in as possible. It was constructed in the 1990s.

“When it was built back then with the way this design is of bringing the outside in, it was kind of a marvel in terms of what wellness spaces looked like,” said Trish Hooper, YMCA chief executive officer. “Having all of this natural light come in is a really great thing.”

However, overtime, there have been multiple leaks and it has become very difficult to keep all the windows clean.

Many of the windows on the side of the building will be replaced with larger ones, which will raise those sections a few feet. The windows used as a roof will be replaced with shingles to create a more traditional roof.

“We’re still going to get a lot of natural light in, but we get the added bonus of really providing a great long-term moisture barrier,” Hooper said. “It’s still going to be an angled roof.”

The main roof of the Wellness Center over the basketball courts and equipment was redone between 2016 and 2017 and is not part of the reconstruction project.

The center will be open during construction, which is scheduled to take place weekdays between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Portions of the track may be sporadically closed. The project is funded through member joining fees.

“This center is, in a lot of ways, the heartbeat of the Y,” Hooper said. “Keeping it fresh and modern and available for our members is really what we want to do. That’s our goal.

“We’ve worked really hard with the contractor to make sure that the disruptions are minimal. The biggest disruption will be use of the track when they’re working overhead.”

Hooper said they began planning it several years ago with the goal of starting it in March 2020. TBI Contracting was selected out of three bidders and recommended by the YMCA’s architects, Wildman Chalmers Design of Pittsburgh.

But the project was put on hold due to the covid-19 pandemic. The delay also caused the price to go up about $100,000 due to inflation and supply chain issues.

The Sewickley Valley YMCA has about 10,000 members. About 1,000 people use the facility per day, not including child care services.

Michael Brady, 74, of Moon Township is one of those members. He joined the YMCA in 1983.

“I’ve always liked it here,” he said. “I think it’s a nice place to work out. The camaraderie is good. We played basketball here for, like, 40 years.”

He recalled the construction of the Wellness Center decades ago and how it’s had it share of problems.

Brady believes the reconstruction project will be a benefit to the club.

“I think it’s good,” he said. “I can remember them building it. I can remember when the roof leaked. I think it will (attract new people).”

YMCA hours of operation are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

More information about the club is available at sewickleyymca.org.