YMCA of Central Florida Announces Development Team for Newest Family Center Location in The Packing District

ORLANDO, Fla. – (March 18, 2019) – Today, the YMCA of Central Florida announced the development team who will be spearheading the construction of its 23^rd YMCA location in the heart of Dr. Phillips Charities’ new community, The Packing District. The YMCA has selected general contractors, Brasfield & Gorrie; engineers, GAI Consultants; architects, RLF; and owner representative Foundry Commercial to design and build the 27,000-square-foot family center.

“We are proud to welcome such a robust team of accomplished architects, engineers, contractors and project managers to our development team,” said Dan Wilcox, President & Chief Executive Officer at the YMCA of Central Florida. “This team will work diligently to create an innovative YMCA experience that will serve as a beacon for the residents of the surrounding community and neighborhoods. We will create a welcoming place where neighbors are connected, lives are improved and our region is strengthened for generations to come.”

Spanning two stories, the new YMCA will play a key role in Dr. Phillips Charities’ planned 202-acre, $480-million transformational project near College Park, The Packing District. Dr. Phillips Charities announced its plans to have a YMCA within The Packing District last November and has provided a lead gift to the nonprofit of $8.9 million to begin the development of the new Family Center. In addition, Dr. Phillips Charities donated the land for the Y at the planned roundabout at Princeton Street and Texas Avenue within a new regional park. Continued fundraising efforts are now underway to garner additional community support so that the full vision for the new Y can be realized.

“Within The Packing District, we imagine a live, work, play environment, and the YMCA Family Center is a beautiful fit for that vision,” said Ken Robinson, president/CEO of Dr. Phillips Charities, the community builder of The Packing District. “We’re proud to collaborate with another like-minded organization focused on the benefit this project will bring to the citizens of Orlando. And we’re excited to see their vision start to come to life as they begin their planning and design phase.”

Construction on the facility is projected to break ground in late 2019-early 2020 with a grand opening scheduled for early 2021. Once complete, the YMCA will offer state-of-the art wellness equipment and specialized programs both indoors and outdoors that promote healthy living for every age and ability.

For the latest news and information on the plans for The Packing District, including updates regarding the new YMCA Family Center, follow along The Packing District’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

About The Packing District

The Packing District is a 202-acre transformational project centered at the intersection of Princeton Street and Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, preserving and recapturing a defining part of our community’s history while providing a vibrant base of living and commerce. Historic buildings will be repurposed, integrated with new uses, and connected to dedicated public spaces by a new and bold plan for urban trails and a new 100-acre public park (gifted to the City of Orlando) dedicated to health and wellness, education, arts and community, and sustainability. Preparations began to ready the site for construction in 2018. The project will continue to mature over the next 10-15 years as laid out in the four-phase master plan.

To learn more, follow The Packing District on Facebook and Instagram.

About the YMCA of Central Florida

The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits, serving more than 415,000 Central Floridians per year through a focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. With a Christian-based mission to improve lives and communities, it operates 22 YMCA locations across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties. This mission is expanded beyond the four walls of the Y through community-based programs to combat chronic disease, boost children’s after-school safety and learning, and strengthen fragile neighborhoods. 

To learn more, visit the YMCA of Central Florida website at ymcacf.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram.

About Brasfield & Gorrie

Named among the Most Admired Companies and Best Places to Work, Brasfield & Gorrie was established in 1964. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the company consists of 3,000 employees across 12 offices (eight full-service). Brasfield & Gorrie took in $2.8 billion in revenue in 2017. The company has 220+ LEED® Accredited Professionals and LEED Green Associates with 127 LEED projects and 45+ seeking certification. #1 general contractor according to ENR Southeast. #4 healthcare general contractor according to Modern Healthcare. #27 Top 400 Contractors by Engineering News-Record.

About Gai Consultants

GAI Consultants is an employee-owned engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firm providing award-winning solutions and local expertise to worldwide clients in the energy, transportation, development, government, and industrial markets.

About RLF

RLF is a fully-integrated team of architects, engineers, interior designers and planners that shares a passion for creating exceptional spaces through architecture. The firm continues to evolve as a distinguished practice providing tailored architectural, engineering, and interior design solutions for the federal, healthcare, educational, and cultural markets. Based in Baldwin Park, RLF’s influence has extended to four continents, 15 countries, and 32 states, advancing the Rogers’ inspiring legacy of innovative design and high performing places.

About Foundry Commercial

Foundry Commercial is a full-service real estate services and investment company with 300 employees and more than 50 million square feet of management and leasing across the Southeast and Texas. Foundry provides corporate services, brokerage, leasing, building management and project management services, and is the largest real estate service provider to religious and not-for-profit organizations in the Country. Foundry also includes a development and investment platform that is fully integrated into its services business, leveraging its local market expertise to control more than one billion in advantaged investment opportunities with their JV partners. Foundry Commercial was founded as CNL Commercial Real Estate in 2007 and launched as Foundry in 2015 through a management-led buyout. For more information, visit www.foundrycommercial.com.