Story

Design Program:  The Sherman Lake Outdoor Center is the first facility for the YMCA that has been built from the ground up in 50 years. The new camp and retreat center which is enhanced with a natural setting, is a wonderful opportunity for families, children and the business community who reside in the Kalamazoo County area to take advantage of such a wonderful facility. The project which is located on Sherman Lake includes 16 heated cabins, 4 shower facilities, a very open and spacious    dining hall and an outdoor swimming and boating facility. The Recreation Center shines with an olympic size, handicap accessible pool, a full size gymnasium with climbing wall, fitness area, many activity rooms which could be used for business conferences and a daycare facility.   

Design Challenges: Because the projects were located in a natural, outdoor area, it was more  difficult to design a space that would not interfere with the existing environment. Due to the size of the buildings, one of which incorporated an Olympic size pool with handicap accessibility, humidity levels as well as ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) were a challenge. This project was designed to preserve the natural habitat, for comfort and to be more energy efficient.