The Cooper Koo Family YMCA under construction, image by Jason Allen

On Wednesday, members of the media gathered for a topping off ceremony and hard hat tour of the new Cooper Koo Family YMCA, currently under construction as part of the CIBC Pan Am / Parapan Am Athletes' Village. On hand for the presentation were key stakeholders for the YMCA, as well as donors Michael Cooper and Krystal Koo, who generously donated $2 million toward the project.

Donors and key stakeholders at the topping off ceremony for the new YMCA, image courtesy of The Communications Group, Inc.

At 82,000 square feet, this YMCA is expected to be among the largest in Canada. It will offer a 7,000 sq. ft. gymnasium, a 7,000 sq. ft. swimming pool, and several fitness studios and exercise areas. It will also provide the community with a huge new, accessible green roof, creating an additional 11,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space.

Front entrance under construction, image by Jason Allen

Rendering of complete front entrance, image courtesy of YMCA

The Cooper Koo Family YMCA under construction, image by Jason Allen

The Cooper Koo Family YMCA under construction, image by Jason Allen

The Cooper Koo Family YMCA under construction, image by Jason Allen

A rendering of the complete swimming pool, image courtesy of the YMCA

The Cooper Koo Family YMCA is being built as part of a larger project involving George Brown College. A new campus building, also under construction and visible in many photos below, will serve as apartments for athletes and members of the press during the 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games, after which they'll become student residences.

View along Front Street of the new George Brown residence building under construction, image by Jason Allen

George Brown residence building under construction, image by Jason Allen

The new George Brown residence building, as seen from the roof of the YMCA, image by Jason Allen

The YMCA also announced yesterday that this location is one of five YMCA community centres and facilities to be built throughout the GTA over the next decade.

Ready for our hard hat tour of the YMCA, image by Jason Allen

Looking eastward along Front Street, from Cherry Street, image by Jason Allen

The Canary Restaurant, some time away from being seen again by public traffic, image by Jason Allen

Looking southward along Cherry Street, from Front Street, (yes, Cherry has been moved slightly westward), image by Jason Allen

Looking northward along Cherry Street, from Front Street, image by Jason Allen

View of the Distillery District from the rooftop of the Cooper Koo Family YMCA, image by Jason Allen

View of downtown from the rooftop of the Cooper Koo Family YMCA, image by Jason Allen

You can find out much more about the West Don Lands projects from the dataBase entries linked below, or related articles. Want to get in on the discussion? Choose one of the associated Forum thread links!