New and improved Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake to be completed this week (with video)

CRYSTAL LAKE – Walking through the new automatic sliding doors into an entirely transformed Sage YMCA, Rene Glosny didn't need much convincing before canceling her gym membership elsewhere.

"We've been members here in the past, but we just weren't coming in much," the Cary resident said, explaining why her family previously left the "Y." "Then my husband brought my 11-year-old in the other day and was so impressed by the renovation."

Aside from a short punch list, the $18.2 million, roughly 16-month project to makeover the Sage YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, 701 Manor Road, Crystal Lake, is set to be complete this week, culminating in a grand reveal event Thursday, Executive Director Robyn Ostrem said. She added those like Glosny who decide to check it out will be wowed by its metamorphosis.

"Essentially every square inch of this place has been renovated or built on," she said, sitting in her office within the building's brand new wing.

Growing from 29,000 square feet to 71,000 square feet, the new "Y" now includes a lighter and more modern facade; a bright, new lobby anchored by a fireplace; an expanded aquatic center with a new eight-lane competition pool and spectator seating; three new fitness studios; a fitness center tripled in size; renovated locker rooms; Wi-Fi throughout the facility; an entire preschool wing that will provide licensed full-day preschool starting next year — and the list goes on.

After a quick tour, Glosny was back Monday to officially become a member of the new and improved facility, thus joining hundreds of families who have flocked to the "Y" and its additional 42,000 square feet, Ostrem said.

"Our membership has actually been growing since the inception of this project, which I was surprised at because it's been so chaotic," she said, adding family membership has gone from 1,806 in December 2013 to 2,300 currently. "So we're very hopeful that now that it's done, we'll be able to increase our membership even more."

The massive expansion will ensure plenty of space for the prospective increase, plus a whole host of other opportunities for children, adults and everyone in between, Ostrem said.

"With the two pools, we're able to offer more open swim, which is what our members wanted, and we're able to enhance swim lessons, offering them seven days a week, which we hadn't done before," she added.

Other programming changes include more space for preschool, plus a kids zone with drop-in babysitting services. Plus, the "Y" will offer more robust fitness classes, provide updated equipment, and facilitate more recreational activity with its new racquetball court and outdoor court for basketball and tennis.

For Bill Blakely of Crystal Lake, who's been a member at the Sage YMCA since the '90s, it's just a relief to lift weights without bumping elbows with a fellow gym-goer.

"The old 'Y' was very small with just enough equipment to keep people coming to work out," Blakely said, taking a break from his daily workout. "In the new 'Y,' they've expanded; they've opened it up. It's just a much nicer environment."

And now that the construction chaos is nearly over, Ostrem said the facility can begin reinventing itself to fit its new appearance.

"The first chapter in 2013-2014 was the renovation and expansion," she said. "Going into 2015, the next chapter for this YMCA is to really serve the families in the community."

Thursday's grand reveal will be from 5 to 7 p.m. and will offer a program fair, mini fitness classes, smoothie sampling at the new Tropical Smoothie Cafe, face painting, open swim and cookie decorating, according to a YMCA news release.

It states also the transformative project was made possible through contributions from Vince and Pat Foglia of Sage Products in Cary, plus contributions from Crystal Lake civic leaders and community members.