In 2000, the Greater Hartford YMCA created an Urban Initiatives Department with the intention of developing an improved service model for the City of Hartford and its residents. The group created a series of recommendations that included developing a smaller, community focused facility in Hartford’s North End neighborhood; refocusing downtown presence by providing limited, but high quality, fitness-only services in the central business district; and, selling the existing free-standing athletic and residential facility located just off downtown. JCJ Architecture was brought on to advise the Urban Initiatives group early in the process and again later to provide full services for relocation of the GHYMCA’s fitness program to new tenant space in downtown’s Central Business District. The 35,000 square foot program includes a fitness center, circuit training, steam/sauna and locker rooms as well as administrative headquarters for the Metro’s activities.