NEWS ARTICLE
October 2, 2009
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Excerpts from feature article published in the Hopewell Valley News, October 1, 2009
The Ewing-based architectural firm of Clarke Caton Hintz has been picked over three other finalists to design a Hopewell Valley YMCA community center.
The center is to be built on 13 acres in northwest Pennington off the northbound side of Route 31 near the West Franklin Avenue intersection.
"Clarke Caton and Hintz impressed the members of the competition jury with its strong site planning and design background," said Hopewell Valley YMCA CEO Doug Pszczolkowski.
Its portfolio includes projects like the minor league baseball parks in Mercer (Waterfront Park), Camden (Campbell’s Field) and Somerset County (TDBank Ballpark).
The YMCA issued a request for qualifications last summer and received 13 responses.
A volunteer committee reviewed the submittals and narrowed the list down and invited six firms to participate in a design competition. Four finalists submitted master plans for the site.
A jury of community leaders was assembled to review the presentations from the four local firms: Clarke Caton Hintz; Faridy, Veisz, Fraytak; Hone+Associates; and Silverberg+Associates/Cohen Architects.
Each of the four firms submitted different designs and master plans for the future YMCA on what is known as the Capital Health Community Center Campus.
"Any of the four finalists would have done a great job for our YMCA," Mr. Pszczolkowski said. "However, Clarke Caton Hintz just had that extra-special fit."
The Hopewell Valley YMCA hopes to engage in a schematic design process with CCH and develop plans to submit for the approvals process with Pennington Borough.
"We have just about two years to raise the money required to purchase and close on the land," Mr. Pszczolkowski said. "Engaging the design team will enable us to prepare the necessary plans and documents to complete the next phase of building a facility YMCA and our collaborative partners with a senior center," a Y press release said.
"The YMCA gained a great deal of insight from the four design teams, he said.
"Each situated a different building in a different spot with various surrounding elements and adjacencies for the senior center and other potential partners," he said.
"We were impressed with the work and knowledge of all four firms," said YMCA volunteer Paul Qvale.
The Hopewell Valley YMCA is a charitable organization with offices at 62 S. Main St., Pennington. The Y provides programs for children, men, women and families of all ages, races and religions. It served more than 1,400 people in the Hopewell Valley in 2008.
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