The Demakes Family YMCA of Lynn, Mass. sought a rooftop garden area to host farm-to-table and nutrition education programs for youth and teens, as well as a space conducive to hosting wellness and cultural community events. Connolly responded by delivering a functional yet stylish design emphasizing a low-maintenance approach to upkeep. Offering views of the surrounding city, the inviting rooftop space features a structural steel pergola and raised concrete supporting an elegant Cumaru wood paver deck.

Protected from the elements by wind screens, the roofdeck also features planters and trellis for fruits and vegetables, stainless steel wash basins, benches and picnic tables, and rain barrels to collect water which may be used for irrigating crops. In close collaboration with Connolly and the YMCA, Wentworth Partners & Associates (structural engineering) and BLW Engineers, Inc. (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) were key partners in ensuring that the project was completed smoothly and to satisfaction.

“We are so proud to open this beautiful outdoor space for gardening and nutrition education and as a space for learning, cultural expression, health and wellness classes, and community events. Connolly Brothers built a serene and elegant multi-functional space that will be a valued asset in our region for years to come." - Kathleen Walsh, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North