YMCA of Northwest Florida

From the Director – Get Ready to Flex into New Space Downtown

A photo shows a sneak peak of some of the studio space in the new Flex Area.
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July 1, 2025

With construction in the Bear Levin Studer YMCA Flex Area (formerly the Andrews Institute) completed, we’re excited to share details about what’s happening over the next two weeks, both at BLS and at Gulf Breeze.

What will this mean for you? New equipment, more space, and more amenities – both downtown and in Gulf Breeze – by mid-July.

We’ll keep you updated about key dates via social media, app notifications, and digital screens inside our branches. But if you want to know more, a detailed timeline follows.

Saturday, July 12 - Sunday, July 13The Wellness Floor will undergo a deep cleaning Saturday night into Sunday morning. The area will open Sunday at noon as normally scheduled.
Monday, July 14All BLS wellness spaces will be open for normal hours.
Tuesday, July 15

The entire second floor of BLS will be CLOSED all day. This includes the basketball gymnasium. This closure is for the safety of everyone while the move takes place.

We will move 17 Precor strength pieces off the Wellness Floor. These will go to Gulf Breeze to replace the current Startrac line. Gulf Breeze will remain open, but equipment swaps will take place throughout the morning, which may cause brief interruptions in workouts. We will have staff available at Gulf Breeze all day.

We will move 22 new Matrix strength pieces onto the Wellness Floor.

During this daylong move, we will rearrange the entire Wellness Floor to create a more logical and efficient design that will maximize space and improve the member experience.

Wednesday, July 16

Flex Area is open. New equipment includes 2 deadlift platforms with squat racks; dumbbells up to 55 pounds plus benches; 2 dual pulley cable machines; 4 plate-loaded machines; and 4 treadmills.

The mirror from the Personal Home Studio downstairs will be moved to its new home in the Flex Area. We added a second room next door. These two personal studios are open and ready for member use.

The HCA Florida West Community Room is furnished and ready for use. This space will host teen programs, educational sessions, and group meetings. If you have an idea or a group that would like to use the space, email Trenten Kawas.