The sheer size and scope of the Cor Van Raay YMCA in Lethbridge, Alberta is impressive enough—more than 260,000 square feet consisting of amenities like a large field house, massive aquatics center, an indoor playground and a well-planned fitness center. It is by far one of the largest installs done by LIV North.
It’s no easy task outfitting a facility as large as the Cor Van Raay YMCA, but LIV North employed a well-planned approach. The work started by combining three key components—space, product and the YMCA’s vision of community. Together with our team first approach, we were able to deliver top of the line fitness equipment for members to enjoy for years to come. After 3 1/2 years of planning ended, the opening of the standout facility was in May 2019 and members have been enjoying it thoroughly ever since.
There were several key steps that contribute to the success of this install and partnership:
Complete buy-in from both sides. YMCA chose LIV North due to the involvement of the entire team. Sales, Logistics, Ownership, Delivery Crew, and the ability to bring everything together. Both sides were in constant communication over 3 1/2 years of meetings both in Calgary and Lethbridge.
The delivery happened on one of the coldest weeks of the year in Lethbridge reaching -30 degrees celsius. There were complications like the elevator going down on days 3-5 but the team manually moved items up two flights of stairs. 75% of the floor plan needed to be revised overnight as changes to the electrical outlets were moved in the final stages of construction. We seamlessly addressed these at no cost to the client.
Set Expectations and deliver on set goals. Life Fitness and LIV North showed that no matter the size of the project, deadlines, and expectations were not only met, but exceeded the customer’s vision. The budget was in line and the delivery time was under what was expected. This came from us being able to use expert install crew from both cities.
Customization. The ability to customize a project based not only on the demographic but the client’s vision. This YMCA has a different look in the performance area with turf being used. In addition, we did the teen room with billiards and air hockey/foosball tables. Small customizations that we are able to pull from our partner Life Fitness.
It’s the first time Life Fitness have showcased an installation outside of the US for their promotional video. The project spotlight was spearheaded by LIV North’s Russ McLean. This project was 100% Life Fitness, and their partner products except the dumbbells and plates. Footage from this site is part of the Global rebrand, which highlights Canadian fitness, service, and teamwork.
The goal for Cor Van Raay was to have 6000 members before September 2019 – they hit that in July. A very impressive feat and one we were delighted to help facilitate with the install. Jennifer, the CEO of Lethbridge YMCA, confirmed that before the COVID-19 closure, the member number was 10,084. The largest amount of members they have ever had.
The best partner in the business is LIV North and Life Fitness.