YWCA Pool Renovation Project
This work is rooted in our local history. In the 1950s, Asheville had two YWCA branches, one white and one Black, and swim lessons were among the first programs to be integrated, before integration was required by law. That early commitment reflects a truth that still holds today: access to safe, welcoming water spaces is an equity issue. Drowning disparities continue to disproportionately impact Black children and youth, especially in pool settings, making swim access and instruction a critical matter of safety and justice.
In the last full year our pool was open, we served 772 individual members for aquatics programming. This included 1,541 scholarship lessons out of a total of 3,399 lessons.
For more than a century, the YWCA of Asheville has worked to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. The YWCA pool has long been one of the ways we live this mission in practice, by expanding access to safety, wellness, and belonging in the water.
An Essential Renovation
Findings & Assessment
Our pool was closed on June 28, 2024, after small pieces of concrete began falling from the ceiling due to spalling—deterioration caused by long-term, chemical and humidity control issues. Since its construction in 1975, our pool has historically been the warmest in town, generating exceptionally high humidity levels. Unfortunately, critical humidity and air ventilation systems had not been planned for nor adapted over the pool’s nearly fifty-year lifespan and the damage was more extensive than was initially visible. These factors led to unsafe conditions that required immediate closure.
From July 2024 through April 2025, we worked diligently to evaluate a long-term roof repair. During this process, we discovered that the roof was beyond repair. Since April 2025, we conducted one additional comprehensive assessment of the ceiling and an exterior wall. At the same time, we assembled a highly qualified design and construction team through a competitive bidding and interview process to ensure affordability, quality, and mission alignment. To date, we have invested approximately $93,428 in assessments, planning, and initial repairs.
Where We Are Now: Planning Underway
As anyone who has initiated a major repair project on an older building knows, sometimes the extent of the damage is not visible at first. As our construction and design team evaluated the full condition of this aging facility, it became clear that replacing the ceiling alone would not allow us to safely reopen the pool. Due to the age of the structure and current code requirements, multiple interconnected systems must be addressed. The full scope of work includes replacing the ceiling; upgrading HVAC, electrical, plumbing, pool drains, water heating, and filtration systems; and replacing at least one deteriorating load-bearing wall.
Based on projections from our architect, construction project manager, and structural and mechanical engineers, the estimated cost of this comprehensive restoration is $3.5 million. While the scope of this project has expanded significantly over the past nine months, we are proud to share that we have already raised over $1 million toward this effort—without launching a formal capital campaign.
We are currently in the construction planning phase, which includes internal coordination to minimize program disruption, planning for potential impacts to neighbors and partners, permitting, material sourcing, and finalizing demolition and construction sequencing. To reduce disruption to our programs, community, and surrounding neighbors, we anticipate beginning demolition and construction in June 2026. Our goal is to reopen in early 2027, understanding that our timeline may shift as we move further along in the process.
We publish monthly updates on the pool construction and renovation process, which you can find in our Member E-News or on our lobby slideshow.
What’s Next? The Future of the Pool
We recognize that this closure has had a significant impact on the community we serve. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, several pools in our region have closed, further limiting access to aquatic spaces. This project presents an important opportunity to restore our pool in a way that aligns with our mission and values—by bringing it fully up to code, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring ADA accessibility. Our goal is to secure the long-term future of this historic pool so it can serve generations to come, honoring its legacy while advancing safety, inclusion, and swim equity.
In addition to the monthly construction updates, we will share plans and schematics as they’re approved.