BUILDING BLOCKS: Mukwonago YMCA expansion

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Project name: Mukwonago YMCA expansion

Address: 245 E. Wolf Run, Mukwonago

Size: 11,600 square feet

Start date: Preparatory work began in late March; a formal groundbreaking is planned for April 3.

Estimated completion date: Work on the first floor is expected to finish in mid-August, and work on the second floor should finish shortly after.

Owner: Mukwonago YMCA

General contractor: VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee

Lead architect: Kahler Slater, Milwaukee

Significance to the region: The 58,000-square-foot Mukwonago YMCA first opened in 2012. But even then it was expected that the center would need to be expanded in the future. The expansion project will add a childcare room, a larger cycling studio, a large group-exercise area, an expanded free-weight area and two pre-kindergarten classrooms, which the YMCA will run in partnership with the Mukwonago Area School District. More parking spaces will also be added.

Project challenge: The expansion work will take up space in a section of the YMCA’s parking lot, and may also require parts of the track and fitness center to be temporarily closed to patrons. Geoff Mertens, vice president of operations at the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County, said these minor inconveniences will be more than made up for by the benefits of the expansion work. “Knowing what’s coming down the road, it’s going to be worth it,” he said.