Location: Saginaw, Michigan
Architect: Alden B. Dow
In July 1963, Alden B. Dow began the first drawings for a new building for the Young Women’s Christian Association in Saginaw on South Jefferson Avenue. The Association had been housed in various temporary locations since 1950 when its original 1913 building had to be vacated due to its unsafe condition. Working drawings and specifications for the new building were completed on May 1, 1964. Collinson Construction Company of Midland was selected as the general contractor for the project for its bid of $672,000. With the addition of site costs, equipment and furnishings, the total cost of the project came to $1,052,688. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 5, 1964.
From the street, the flat roof and low horizontal profile create the impression of a one-level building when it’s actually a 36,000 square foot two-level building on the inside. Regularly-spaced narrow concrete columns span the brick walls on all sides of the building and project outward just below the roofline to hold individual precast concrete planter boxes between each column.
Dominating the center of the first floor on the inside is an Olympic-size swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by glass walls on two levels. Above the pool is a coffered ceiling made of reflective concrete with smaller, waffle-like squares recessed within the larger grid. Skylights are embedded in the corners of the larger grid.
On the first level are separate rooms for the different activities and classes offered, including arts and crafts, mirror room for dance classes, game room, cooking, sewing, snack bar and kitchen. A nursery and four bedrooms are also on the first floor. The second level features club rooms, offices, multipurpose room and another kitchen. The Zonta Club of Saginaw donated funding to furnish a small chapel on the second floor complete with pews, altar table and organ. The dedication of the building was held on April 17, 1966.
With declining financial support, the building closed and was listed for sale in 1981. It was later renovated into a religious convention center in 1984. The building is currently for sale and listed at $695,000. Interior photos show pews where the pool used to be. The distinctive coffered ceiling, however, can still be seen.
