The historic YMCA building that sat empty for several years in uptown Columbus, Georgia, got a new shot at life in 2019 when hometown developer W.C. Bradley Real Estate bought the property with plans to transform it into new offices and a community center.
Three years later, in the summer of 2022, W.C. Bradley and its general contractor, Brasfield & Gorrie, completed the redevelopment of the marble building at 118 W. 11th St. into a modern office complex in the heart of the West Georgia city. The redevelopment converted the YMCA building into a four-story, 23,000-square-foot Class A office building, and as a result earned a 2023 CoStar Impact Award for the redevelopment of the year, as judged by a panel of local industry professionals.
The historic YMCA building was officially dedicated on Dec. 2, 1903. Its largest financial supporter, the late philanthropist George Foster Peabody, attended the event. Peabody helped finance the building because of his respect for the YMCA organization. He also wanted to give the city what was reportedly the only marble YMCA in the United States.
During the redevelopment, Brasfield & Gorrie sourced and replaced a large portion of the exterior marble that was more than 100 years old from the same quarry in Tate, Georgia, that supplied the original facade, according to W.C. Bradley. Pace Halter, president and chief operating officer of the development firm, said the historic building is a critical piece of Columbus' urban fabric.
“The building is the third-oldest YMCA in America and is centered directly in Uptown. It’s walkable to restaurants, shopping, and other amenities that suit all lifestyles,” Halter said in a statement. “The building has been here for over a century and has sat as an empty shell for countless years. It is thrilling to have had the opportunity to breathe life into the building and continue to further develop the Uptown area.”
About the project: The redevelopment transformed the historic YMCA building into a 23,000-square-foot, four-story Class A office building with a modern kitchen and breakrooms, shower facilities, flexible working spaces and shared conference rooms.
What the judges said: "The former YMCA building was in disrepair before this project," said Shaun Roberts, a broker at NAI G2 Commercial. "Now the building is vibrant and adds value to the area."
Jamie Herndon, an owner of Herndon Construction, said, "they did a great job in bringing the building back to life."
They made it happen: Pace Halter, president and chief operating officer, and Mike Webb, vice president of construction services, W.C. Bradley Co. Real Estate; Wes Kelley, vice president and division manager, Brasfield & Gorrie; and Holden Spaht, creative director, Square Feet Studio.