Westport Weston Family Y Celebrates Construction Milestone

WESTPORT, Conn. — Westport Weston Family Y officials and supporters gathered at the construction site of the Y’s new facility Wednesday afternoon and watched as a 20-foot steel beam was hoisted high into the air and installed into the structure’s framework.

A signed steel beam "tops off" the new Westport Weston Family Y facility under construction at the Y's Mahackeno campus.
Photo Credit: *Contributed: Scott Smith*

A signed, 20-foot steel beam was installed into the framework of the new Westport Weston Family Y facility Wednesday during a "topping off" ceremony.
Photo Credit: *Vanessa Inzitari*

Ironworkers from United Steel guide a signed steel beam to its final setting in the new Westport Weston Family Y facility. The beam was the last major piece of steel that needed to be installed.
Photo Credit: *Contributed: Scott Smith*

A 20-foot steel beam, signed by Y officials, members and supporters, was installed Wednesday.
Photo Credit: *Contributed: Scott Smith*

by Vanessa Inzitari

08/01/2013 5:00 a.m.

The beam, adorned with signatures of Y officials, staff, members, donors and the construction team, was the last major piece of steel that needed to be installed.

“This is definitely a milestone event,” Y CEO Rob Reeves said. “After all the years and the volunteers who worked tirelessly to get approval for this [project], it’s exciting to see it happening. What was once a dream is now a reality.”

Construction on the 54,000-square-foot building — which is Phase 1 of the 102,000-square-foot facility to be built at the Y’s 32-acre Mahackeno campus — began in February and is running slightly ahead of schedule, said Reeves. The structure is expected to be fully enclosed by the time winter arrives, Reeves added.

At the current rate of construction, the building is expected to be completed by September 2014.

“They are on schedule and on budget,” Reeves said of Turner Construction Co., the Y’s construction partner.

The building will include an aquatics center that features a 10-lane 25-yard lap pool and adjacent shallow warm-water pool, a health and wellness center, a multi-purpose gymnasium, three group fitness studios, a Child Watch/Kids’ Adventure Gym area, five locker rooms and other amenities.

To date, the Y is about $1.6 million shy of fully funding the construction of this first building, which costs $38.5 million. As this building is just phase one of the project, Reeves said fundraising efforts will not stop once the Y reaches its goal.

Anyone interested in supporting the construction of the new facility can make a donation to the Y’s Building What Matters capital campaign through the “Picture Yourself at the New Family Y” project. The innovative project involves the creation of a large wall mural at the new facility to be composed of thousands of individual photographs of Y members and supporters.

For a tax-deductible contribution of $100 per photo, donors can have their photo, or photos, included in the mosaic. For more information about the mosaic project, or to upload a photo, visit the "Picture Yourself at the New Family Y" website.

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