Case Studies
ralph j. stolle countryside ymca
Construction start: July 2000
Occupancy: May 2001
Customer Overview: Since 1978, the Ralph J. Stolle Countryside YMCA has provided quality programs and services to the citizens of Warren County, Ohio and surrounding communities. Through a variety of programs designed to promote family life in southwest Ohio, the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, Ohio has become one of the world's largest and most progressive YMCA programs.
Situation: Countryside YMCA was in the planning stages of a major expansion. They had engaged an architect and construction manager to lead the project. Due to time constraints to complete the project, the decision was made to have the shell or main structure construction via a design-build contract.
Solution: Unit Building Services was hired as a design-build contractor to design and construct the concrete tilt-up exterior walls and the structural steel, bar joists, and metal deck required for the roof, 2nd floor, and running track. This allowed the project architect to create the interior layouts while design and construction of the building was taking place.
Outcome: The Countryside YMCA was able to save approximately six months in their expansion schedule. Reducing the expansion schedule allowed the YMCA to meet their program requirements and goals, and to better serve their approximately 16,000 members.
Stephen Boland, President and CEO of the Countryside YMCA, was impressed with the results. In an article that he wrote for Perspective, a magazine for YMCA professionals, he stated, “Fourteen months after breaking ground in late June 2000, our YMCA opened a 90,000 square foot addition, which cost $100,000 less than budget.” He also attributed an important part of the success of the project to assembling the right people to do the work and using a design-build approach.