June 22, 2023 |News, Non-profits, Resources, Youth

Demakes Family YMCA Unveils Rooftop Garden

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Venue to Host Farm-to-Table Education for Youth and Cultural Events

Last night, Connolly Brothers, Inc., a construction management, planning, design, and real estate development firm serving private commercial, industrial, and institutional clients, celebrated the grand opening of a new multipurpose rooftop garden and outdoor function space at the Demakes Family YMCA in Lynn. The Rooftop Garden will feature farm-to-table, nutrition education-oriented programs for youth and teens who will grow and harvest collard, cucumbers, eggplant, jalapenos, lettuce, and much more and then prepare foods together with peers in the YMCA’s Healthy Kitchen.

“We are so proud to open this beautiful outdoor space for gardening and nutrition education and as a space for learning, cultural expression, health and wellness classes, and community events. Connolly Brothers built a serene and elegant multi-functional space that will be a valued asset in our region for years to come. We invite everyone to stop down for a visit and a tour of this extraordinary space.”

Kathleen Walsh, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North

Connolly provided preconstruction, design, engineering, and construction management services on the project, collaborating closely with the YMCA’s executive and facilities teams to deliver a space conducive to outdoor education as well as other wellness activities, including yoga, performances, and events. Focused on delivering a pleasant experience to all visitors, Connolly’s functional yet stylish design emphasized a low-maintenance approach to upkeep. Offering views of the surrounding city, the inviting rooftop space features a structural steel pergola and raised concrete supporting an elegant Cumaru wood paver deck.

Protected from the elements by wind screens, the roofdeck also features planters and trellis for fruits and vegetables, stainless steel wash basins, benches and picnic tables, and rain barrels to collect water which may be used for irrigating crops. In close collaboration with Connolly and the YMCA, Wentworth Partners & Associates (structural engineering) and BLW Engineers, Inc. (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) were key partners in ensuring that the project was completed smoothly and to satisfaction.

“Creating a community-building space in which kids will learn how to grow and cook things together while connecting with one another is a special opportunity,” says Jay Connolly, president of Connolly Brothers. “We were honored to assist the Demakes Family YMCA in their process of developing this vision and seeing it through to fruition.”

About the YMCA of Metro North

The YMCA of Metro North is a leading Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization providing health, fitness, and youth development programs to the nearly 69,000 community members it serves annually. The association awards more than $1,600,000 in financial assistance for members to attend its Y Academy early learning and after school programs, summer camps, and evidence-based health programs. The association has locations in Lynn, Melrose, Peabody, Saugus, and Stoneham. Learn more at ymcametronorth.org.

About Connolly Brothers

Connolly Brothers Inc. is a construction management firm serving private commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. A five-generation family business established in 1880, Connolly is based in Beverly, Mass. and operates throughout the New England region. For more than a century, clients have turned to Connolly for all aspects of their construction projects, from planning and design to real estate development. For more, please visit connollybrothers.com.

Photo above by Camille Maren

The above press release was submitted to us by Mayor Nicholson’s office.