The Andover/North Andover YMCA has received $3.5 million in advanced gifts for its estimated $20 million construction project, which includes a 60,000-square-foot expansion and renovation that will double the YMCA’s current capacity.

The early investors include Watts Water Technologies of North Andover, the Stevens Foundation in North Andover, Andover residents Timothy Horne and Rosalyn Wood and the YMCA’s own stakeholders – the volunteer boards of directors and employees of the Merrimack Valley YMCA.

Plans for the project include a new early childhood development center, a youth and teen wellness center, a healthy active living center for older adults, expanded health and wellness space, a 50-meter pool and new space to extend the services fueled by partnerships and collaborations.

"We are grateful for the generous contributions of our early investors and believe this initial support is just the starting point. Our sites are set high for this expansion because we know how important the end result is," said Stephen Ives, Merrimack Valley YMCA CEO. "Through this project, we will be able to better provide community health and wellness, advancing the ways we impact our members. We will ensure that any investment in this project is an investment in the future. For 40 years we have served the community, and this will position us to have an immense social and economic impact on the community for the next 40 years."

The building committee, which will oversee all decisions regarding the expansion project moving forward, has been established, with guidance from the Merrimack Valley YMCA’s board of directors. Trident Project Advantage Group has served as the owner’s project manager (OPM) since the project’s inception and recently, Sasaki Assoc. was selected as the architecture firm and Harvey Construction was chosen as the construction manager/builder.

Construction is expected to begin in June 2012 with an estimated completion date of late 2013.