The Joliet YMCA was founded in April 1882 and, like other chapters, promoted health and welfare based on Christian principles. In March 1888, G. Julian Barnes was hired as the architect, and construction began on the first building, on the northwest corner of Clinton and Ottawa streets.

In February 1902, the board of directors passed a motion to close the YMCA and sell the building. The YMCA officially ended in Joliet with this measure. By 1926, the local Joliet community strongly supported the re-establishment of the YMCA.

Wishing to have a downtown location, community members began a successful fundraising campaign to raise the needed money – nearly $500,000 – to cover the land and construction costs of a new facility.

Completed in 1928, the seven-story building,on the southwest corner of Webster and Ottawa streets, was designed by the D.H. Burnham & Co. architectural firm.

The building has a contrasting red brick and limestone façade with corner quoins, banding, and water table accentuated with stone medallions, columns and capitals at entrances and wrought-iron railings at the lower windows.

All of the features are common elements of the Georgian Revival style. A Women’s Division annex was completed in the early 1950s.

Today, the building offers affordable rental homes for senior citizens.