Church Heath YMCA Pool at Crosstown

1354 Tower Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 United States

Building Area (sf): 760 sf building area; total hardscape 8,000 sf

Completion: August 2019

Architect of Record:

LRK

Tony Pellicciotti (Principal in Charge), Jonathan Smith (Project Manager), Caleb Sears, Meredy Dahlgren, Megan Hoover, Dara Payton, Karrar Al Jassani

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Grinder, Taber, & Grinder
• Electrical: OGCB (MEP), Structural Design Group (Structural), SRCE (Civil), Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf (Aquatics Consultant)
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  Chad Mellon (01, 02, 04-06, 07 Right, 11), LRK (03, 07 Left & Middle, 08-10)
  

A 5-lane lap pool and pavilion were designed to fit within a dense site and provide an oasis for a vertical village.

Crosstown Concourse is a vertical village containing a multitude of uses: offices, apartments, schools, and restaurants. As part of this vertical village, the Crosstown Pool was envisioned as a critical part of the amenities for Crosstown, shared by non-profit Church Health Center, the YMCA, Crosstown High School, and the Concourse residents.

The 8,000-square-foot site between the existing Crosstown building and a new gym was just large enough to fit a 5-lane lap pool with little area left over for a pool deck and service spaces. A grade change throughout the site required extensive ramps and stairs. A pool deck, pavilion, and play area were constructed within the scarce remaining site area.

The pavilion was designed as a jewel box – simple in program, but rigorous in design and construction. The canopy provides shade during the day and is lit from within at night, with a warm glow of locally sourced cypress reflected on the pool surface. The pool and play area are accentuated by cool aquatic tones.

The site enclosure creates a secure and open space through a rich, yet simple material palette. Wood, board-formed concrete, and perforated aluminum delineate the site. A glass sculpture by a local artist is the focal point of the site wall. On the outside of the enclosure, a generous bench, garden, and fountains are offered as a space to relax in the shade.

The Crosstown Pool provides a welcome sanctuary for the Crosstown Concourse and the Memphis community.