Building closure during COVID-19 expedites renovation timeline to enhance member experience
HOUSTON (May 28, 2020) – The Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch is pleased to announce the completion of an interior renovation project made possible by a generous gift from YMCA of Greater Houston longtime supporter, Monty Ballard. Project renovations include three newly reimagined spaces, redesigned locker rooms and family changing rooms, along with visual enhancements including new color palettes, flooring, furniture, lighting fixtures and upgrades to equipment. In all, nearly 70% of the 56,000 square foot facility has been renovated in some way.
“We listened to our members and we’re thrilled to offer a large-scale renovation as we excitedly welcome our members back into our spaces in a brighter, modern environment with enhanced amenities,” states Stephen Ives, President and CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston. “As saddening as COVID-19’s effects have been on our communities, it has allowed us to expedite the renovations at Monty Ballard and to reopen better than ever. Our team is greatly appreciative of Monty Ballard’s generous financial contribution for this community.”
Monty Ballard at Cinco Ranch will open June 1 with outdoor group exercise and lap swimming. YMCA of Greater Houston will announce further reopen timing at a later date for other programs and services such as fitness centers, indoor group exercise, child watch, additional youth programs and more. Schedules and registration for outdoor group exercise and lap swimming are available on the YMCA of Greater Houston website. Members and the community are encouraged to stay engaged through the virtual YMCA platform offering exercise classes, activities for kids and families, multiple opportunities for connection, and a virtual water safety program to teach families how to be safe around water.
Three Newly Designed Spaces
Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch will offer newly designed and innovative spaces for members to use throughout the facility’s 6,300 square feet of renovated studio spaces. These re-designed spaces include a stretch studio, spin studio, light weights studio, and the addition of new virtual class services in three studios. The new stretch studio will feature new floor mats, stretch bands, a virtual studio screen for training, complementary equipment to support pre- and post-work out stretching and mindfulness, LED lighting and new flex floors. The Rockett Spin Studio will claim home to twenty, new Keiser M3i Indoor Bikes for members and will serve as a virtual studio outside of scheduled class times. The three new virtual studios are perfect for continued social distancing classes and will feature large-screen TVs, and provide instant, on-demand access to classes for members to complete virtual workouts while remaining safe and consistent with current CDC, state, and city guidelines. The enhanced Light Weights studio will provide access to TRX suspension training, a new squat rack, light weights and access to a variety of functional fitness equipment.
Complete Locker Room & Family Changing Room Transformation
The redesigned locker room spaces will feature new flooring, newly tiled shower spaces, new lockers, seating, a vanity counter in the women’s room, conveniently placed outlets, and individual vanity mirrors. Entrances face both the main corridor and the pool area for easy and convenient access to both spaces, yet privacy remains.
Enhanced Overall Experience
As members enter the Monty Ballard location, they will immediately feel welcomed with our new warm gray color palette, an open-concept lobby with new furniture and finishes, new flooring, and upgraded lighting fixtures and spaces. The full cosmetic facelift to the lobby and locker room will be instantly recognizable through beautiful exposed ceilings, complimented by dark accent walls and a variety of mixed materials.
“I support the Y because it touches almost everyone in the community: children, teens, seniors, and families all have a place at the Y,” states Monty Ballard, generous and longtime supporter of The YMCA of Greater Houston. “The YMCA community programs, like Safety Around Water, help to improve and save lives, and are an important part of strengthening our community as a whole.”
The project team includes Tellepsen Construction and Gro Development who partnered together for the massive renovation led by the YMCA team, Brian Kridler and Greg Coop.
The Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch opened in 2001 and has been home to more than 18,000 members from the Katy area. Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch offers a variety of fitness areas, personal training, group exercise classes, indoor and outdoor swimming, out-of-school time child care, and family programs.
The renovation project was slated to begin fall 2020 and initially expected to be completed in winter 2020. However, due to COVID-19 closures, the completion was greatly accelerated this year.
For more information about the YMCA of Greater Houston or ways to get involved, please visit www.ymcahouston.org, and follow the organization on Facebook @YMCAHouston and Instagram @YMCAHouston.
About YMCA of Greater Houston
Founded in 1886, today the Y remains committed to the health of more than half a million people in Greater Houston who learn, grow and thrive through programs and services at our 25 centers. Strengthening community is our cause. Together, we connect active, engaged Greater Houston Area residents to build a better us.