Andover YMCA: Rebuilding Hope

On April 29, 2022, the Wichita Metropolitan Area was hit with a calamitous EF3 tornado, impacting areas of Andover, including the Dr. Jim Farha Andover YMCA. Schaefer Architecture swiftly began their work with the Greater Wichita YMCA to commence architectural plans to build back better.

To maintain community connection during the restoration process, great strides were taken to put the Andover YMCA in a position to reopen the outdoor waterpark by May 2023, one year after the tornado. In addition to completing the necessary repairs to the existing outdoor facility and pool, new splash pad features, aquatic play structures, and a rentable cabana were incorporated for an enhanced waterpark experience. One year later, the Andover YMCA held its ribbon-cutting, and officially opened its doors to the community on May 20, 2024, boasting a range of stunning restoration updates, from tastefully contemporary interior finishes to an eye-catching, multicolored indoor climbing structure.

The Build

Stemming from a communal need for upliftment, no details were spared in the design process of the Andover YMCA restoration.

Certain areas of the building required more attention due to the severe storm damage, and with the opportunity to reinvent, new features were added throughout the facility. The reimagined family center exhibits a 44-foot custom Luckey Climber at the heart of its radial design, with surrounding multi-use areas. Terraced seating platforms overlooking aquatics, playful stretches of berm, mini putt-putt, cozy lounge and café seating around a fireplace, and a complimentary coffee kiosk are new amenities that can now be found. Adjacent is ‘The Pavilion,’ a multipurpose studio providing space for programs and events, with garage doors installed along its length to extend activities into the newly-energized family center space. In addition to these updates, the existing racquetball courts were converted into a tumbling center with an improved viewing area for onlooking parents, further elevating this popular youth program.

Another priority of the Andover YMCA reconstruction was re-programming the locker rooms to meet modern standards. An expanded family-friendly locker room was created to allow more space and supervision, equipped with private changing rooms and showers, increased vanity space, and accessible phenolic lockers with re-settable combination locks.

Additionally, an aesthetic refresh was implemented throughout the redesign of the building, creating a bright and inviting space for all to enjoy. These details are visible in every corner of the facility, but boldly stand out in spaces like the iconic YMCA-branded waterwall feature that adorns the lobby, updated to reflect the new color scheme and logo. Various interior finishes breathe new air into the facility, including sleek ceramic tile flooring on the first floor, high-performance carpet and rubber athletic flooring on the second floor, a lustrous poured track surface, beautiful wall graphics, energy-saving LED lighting, modernized functional furnishings and millwork, as well as updated play structures and sprays in the indoor pool area.

The Greater Wichita YMCA has been a valued client of Schaefer since 1998, establishing a dynamic of trust through decades of partnership and collaboration. Notably, one of our vice presidents and the project manager on this build, Robert Love, has a unique relationship to many of our YMCA projects. In the case of this restoration project specifically, he was also the designer for the original Andover YMCA, which opened in 2009. Robert, along with the Greater Wichita YMCA leadership team, arrived on-site in Andover a mere twelve hours after the devastation occurred to perform a walk-through and assess the damage to the facility. This dedication and responsiveness to clients exemplifies our unmatched standard of service, which in turn translates into successful projects. Getting the opportunity to design meaningful spaces that reflect the spirit of our clients and communities is one of the most impactful expressions of gratitude we are able to demonstrate.