Houston, TX - When it opens to the public on October 4, the new Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA at 808 Pease will honor the YMCA's 125-year heritage in Houston as it provides for the changing needs of the Downtown community.
In keeping with its mission, the new state-of-the-art facility offers expanded community services, including a food and clothing pantry, social and life skills counseling, computer lab, scholarships for Y programs and collaboration with HISD programs.
Other features the new Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA include are an indoor track, a separate wellness center just for women, expanded strength and cardio workout areas, volleyball and basketball courts for lunchtime pickup games, Wi-Fi connectivity, the Power House Deli and 200 parking places.
"I've been a member of the Downtown Y since 1985," said Ray Allison. "The old building had served us well, but it just wasn't capable of meeting the needs of the members any more. This new building is spectacular, so bright and open. They even got the 'feel' right. It's still so welcoming. I love that they incorporated some of the history from the old building."
The lobby of the Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA features historical photographs and one of the huge cast-iron lanterns from the old building. The 1941 cornerstone has also been incorporated into the new facility, and the original "Y" sign from the top of the old building now hangs above the new wellness center on the fourth floor.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the relationship between the Houston YMCA and the Tellepsen family. That history began with Tom Tellepsen, who spent several months as a resident of the Downtown YMCA while he was taking drafting and engineering classes.
The new LEED gold-certified Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA features an open, energy-efficient design that incorporates natural light and will save $1 million a year in energy costs.
"This new facility will set the standard for YMCAs around the globe," says Fritz Guthrie, chair of the board of the Downtown YMCA. "A central staircase links everything, from the three pools on the ground floor to the wellness center on the fourth floor. It's all so open you can look out on Downtown while you're using the treadmill."
Another important advance is that the new building has a full handicap accessibility, which was never possible at the old lcoation due to all the stairs. For example, the new exercise pool has a built-in wheelchair ramp down into the water.
In addition, the new Tellepsen Family Downtown YMCA will be very family friendly, offering members: Child Watch services while the parent enjoys various Y programs and facilities, supervised youth programs and expanded day camp.
Ann Herlocher