Catonsville, Maryland

The Catonsville Family Center Y expansion nearly doubled the size of an existing concrete block pool and fitness center and completely reconfigured the building to offer an active, inviting facility for the Y of Central Maryland. The addition was designed around a soaring lobby and lounge space from which all the major program spaces are visible and accessible to create a lively sense of community: a new fitness room, family room, stay-n-play, aerobics classrooms and rock-climbing wall, plus the existing swimming pool building with a row of large new windows cut in to see the activity inside.

The exterior incorporates the climbing wall in a glassy tower punctuating the main entrance and providing clerestory windows into the high-ceiling open lobby, and lots of glass showing the exciting activities housed within.