December 22, 2005 (Bethel, CT) — Worth Construction Company, Inc., a major construction company in the Northeast and among the nation's ENR Top 400 Contractors, today announced progress on the renovation and addition to the YMCA, located at 50 East Putnam Avenue, in the heart of Greenwich, CT. The exterior of the original 50,000 square foot structure, built in the early 1900's, will be preserved with renovations to the interior only. New 90,000 square foot additions will be built that will house numerous state-of-the-art facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, the third in the entire state of CT. Construction on this $33 million project began in June and is expected to be completed in the fall, 2007. The project is in the first phase of renovation, and the foundation is set to be placed on the new addition.

Upon completion, the YMCA will be a fine example of a mix of 1900's Georgian Revival and contemporary architecture. The building will be surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds. A new lobby connecting the existing building with the new structure will be built to facilitate easy access.

The exterior of the new addition will be composed of glazed curtain wall and brick systems with an arched roof to match the existing brick structure. The interior will have an open feel with exposed open trusses and ample glass allowing natural light to enter.

The addition will include a natatorium with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a new gymnasium as well as 60,000 square feet of parking. To accommodate this volume of parking, the pool will be supported on a waffle-slab post tensioned system at the second level over the parking garage.

Currently, lead and asbestos abatement has been completed in the first phase of renovations, along with the demolition work. Worth Construction is in the process of executing the layout and mechanical electrical rough-in which entails piping, conduits and duct work. Because of the confines of the site, Worth was unable to bank a 25-foot deep excavation. To overcome this challenge and prevent the earth from caving into the site, a lateral support of the earth—dubbed the "soil nailing" which entails placing a thin sprayed cement wall that is tied back into the earth by drilled soil nails—was erected around the perimeter of the site.

"Just one hundred years after it was first built, Worth is proud to renovate and expand the Greenwich YMCA which will provide a great service to the community," said Joseph Pontoriero, President of Worth Construction Company, Inc. "Furthermore, the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool will enable numerous competitions and practice sessions that will benefit the YMCA."

Renovations to the existing structure will include an upgrade to the current swimming pool, childcare facility, administrative offices, fitness and wellness areas and an exercise area that will include a track, the latest Cybex equipment, weight room, squash and racquetball courts and saunas and steam rooms. The existing gymnasium will be turned into a multi-purpose room.


ABOUT WORTH CONSTRUCTION
Founded in 1978, Worth is a major construction company in the Northeast and among the nation's ENR Top 400 Contractors. The company is a leader in institutional construction with a strong reputation for efficient, on-time completions in healthcare, educational, and municipal construction projects. Worth has been recognized as an extremely competitive, diversified contractor and construction manager. The company's consistent record of on-time and within budget completions stems from its ability to control the many variables in today's construction process.