The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth
development, healthy living, and social responsibility. In 2014, as part of the Clover district’s partnership with the Upper Palmetto YMCA (an institution in its own right since 1913), construction on the Clover School District Community YMCA—the first of its kind in the community—began.
A Clover School District (CSD) Community YMCA was originally nothing more than a “dream... and a vision,” said the now-retired CSD Superintendent Marc Sosne at the facility’s grand opening event. Originally conceived as a place for children to take swimming lessons and the high school swim team to practice (they had been renting out the local country club’s pool), Sosne and others began to think bigger—but they’d need funding.
A good portion of the new CSD YMCA was designed for physical fitness areas, employing an industry-standard aesthetic. David Bellamy, Principal at LS3P Associates Ltd. of Charlotte, N.C., the architectural team contracted for the natatorium portion of the project, recognized this and wanted to make the indoor swimming area stand on its own.
“For the natatorium portion of the building, we wanted a more dynamic look, a look
of fast-paced energy produced by swimmers... not just a red brick school-look,” said Bellamy. “There [needed to be ] glass at the top, more metal … [we wanted] a hightech, fast-paced feel.”
To achieve the desired results, Bellamy knew he’d need the right team. He brought in Achelpohl Roofing, contractors who use and trust McElroy Metal products.
“This was not the first metal roof we’d done,” Bellamy said. “We knew what metal
could do and we knew the radii on the natatorium was something we could achieve
with McElroy products.”
To give the large natatorium the look Bellamy was after, the roof was designed with a radius that allowed the preformed metal panels to lay down without site curving. However, the ticket booths and outdoor locker room facilities would require factory-formed panels that would be curved in the field because of a tighter radius. This required strong coordination and color match of the metal roof to the aluminum composite fascia and soffit material to tie everything together aesthetically.
Achelpohl Roofing installed a total of 21,000 square feet of 24 gauge Maxima 216. The panels for the natatorium roof were manufactured at the McElroy Metal plant. The panels for the ticket booth and locker room were formed and curved onsite with an eye-catching Premium Silver Metallic color.
“We were actively onsite for about six months, [and] did the insulated and composite walls as well,” said Amanda Achelpohl-Childs of Achelpohl Roofing. “We had
about 10 people on the roof to handle the 111-foot panels coming off the roll former.
The installation of the long panels went pretty quick because we had to have so
many people there to help run them out, so we installed at the same time.”
The main entrance, with Premium Silver Metallic fascia and soffits to match the metal roofing, is
highlighted by green screening above the entrance. Visitors have said it resembles the look of a flying saucer, providing a contemporary yet forward-thinking appearance. McElroy Metal supplied 60 sheets of 24 gauge flat sheet for the formed trim, including fascia and soffits.
Today, the CSD’s YMCA’s aquatic and fitness center features two indoor 25-yard pools, a gymnasium, a fitness room, dedicated exercise space for group classes, racquetball courts,
and a walking track. The outdoor 50-meter pool features an adjoining water park with slides
and play equipment for all ages. It’s truly a beacon of community togetherness, with the standing
seam metal roof from McElroy Metal achieving the aesthetic the community and the project’s
architect was looking for.
McElroy Metal is the nation’s go-to company for commercial roofing and siding projects. We work with property owners, architects, and contractors to bring beautiful, strong metal visions to life. Learn more about McElroy Metal and all that we offer on our website or contact us today.
“For the natatorium portion of the building, we wanted a more dynamic look, a look
of fast-paced energy produced by swimmers... not just a red brick school-look,” said
Bellamy. “There [needed to be ] glass at the top, more metal … [we wanted] a hightech, fast-paced feel.”