YWCA of Asheville - Renovations & Additions

Photo of the renovated entrance to the YWCA.

Mathews Architecture has often been given the challenge of reworking older institutional buildings into new and vibrant facilities that meet changing needs. Our experience includes the design and management of projects with comparable programmatic needs as well as experience helping clients phase projects to maintain operation during the construction process.

View of the completed structure from the lower parking area

The YWCA of Asheville Additions & Renovations, completed in September of 2002, was a 3.2 million dollar construction project, which included 24,000 of renovated square footage and almost 15,000 sf of new construction.

Improvements included replacement and installation of new air distribution systems, new exterior and interior windows and doors, new electrical distribution system, new and energy efficient lighting systems, new data and telephone systems, extensive reconfiguration of spaces within the existing shell space, and extensive fire, life-safety and ADA compliance renovation.

Photo of the old gym transformed into a fully-equipped fitness center.

The 15,000 sf addition houses administrative offices and meeting rooms on the upper floor and classrooms on the lower level used by the YWCA's licensed after-school program. There is a new computer lab as well as computer access to all areas of the facility.

Renovated areas include a greatly expanded and updated children's licensed day care facility for infants and children up to age four. There is also a new day-care drop off entrance and covered canopy as well as an emergency drop-in child care room and indoor play area. A new Health & Fitness Center, locker room facilities, Women's Services offices and a variety of multi-purpose classroom, conference and meeting rooms were also created as part of the renovation work. In addition, extensive work was done to add significant number of toilet and shower facilities in the renovated areas and to expand and improve the building's commercial kitchen.

Aerial photo showing the old YWCA as renovation and expansion commenced.

The plans for the comprehensive renovation of the YWCA as well as the expansion and integration of the new addition were based on an extensive master planning process undertaken in 1999 to identify the YWCA's current and future building needs. We worked to program the facility, plan for phased construction with continuous and safe operation of program functions throughout the construction period, and have close tracked construction as well as life-cycle operational costs at each phase of the design process.