Labarre Architects provided the architectural design for the YMCA Pennington Branch expansion and Indoor Aquatic Center. In February 2007, Labarre was awarded construction management of the YMCA's 12,000 square-foot aquatic project. This $2.5 million project is part of the overall master plan; the design and remodeling to modernize the campus will be integrated with the existing facility structure (click here to read the accompanying press release).

The Indoor Aquatic Center will allow the YMCA to provide year-round swimming, which will be ideal for aquatic exercises for senior citizens, swim lessons, and high school swim teams. YMCA will hire additional life guards and swim instructors, more aquatic employees, and be able to provide continuity for certifications.

The IT Services division designed and developed a kiosk to allow members to report exercise machines in need of repair or service.

Labarre also provides facility management services for the YMCA.


YMCA KIOSK

Labarre's IT Services division created a simple way for a YMCA member to create a work request without the need for formal training in Archibus, a facility management software (Archibus is a powerful program which can be overwhelming for some users with limited training). A user-friendly system was needed for YMCA members to report problems they were having with exercise equipment. Labarre's solution was to design and fabricate a kiosk, which included a custom application created to interact easily with Archibus. The YMCA member need only know the four-digit asset tag located prominently on all equipment. The member enters the four-digit number on the touch screen of the kiosk. The next screen displays a picture of the equipment for confirmation, and prompts the member to select one of the predefined problems. The subsequent screen provides a summary of what is to be submitted and the cycle resumes. The kiosk includes background information accessible to the owner, who is able to use the data to track problems, maintenance efficiency, warranty information, and many more equipment details.