Presidio and Point Bonita YMCA

Ongoing, 2010-2020

Since shortly after our founding, Nash has acted as the pro-bono design partner for the local Presidio YMCA and its sister branch the Point Bonita Y, advising on projects and providing architectural services in some cases.  Our work with the Y is on a pro bono basis: they are the backbone of our community and we give back with architectural skills.  

Our first collaboration was designing a new play structure for their YKids program. Creating a screen pattern inspired by the monterey cypress trees that are a hallmark of the area, we worked with an established play-structure manufacturer to come up with an appropriate for the YKids drop-in daycare center.  

Recently, we worked with the Y to install a pop up cafe at the Point Bonita Y in the Marin Headlands. The cafe leverages the Y’s existing strengths in food service and workforce development to provide a small menu of healthy and sustainable food options adjacent to a popular bike and hiking loop. A goal of this project was to test out this new business offering by gathering data on use patterns and visitor needs that will inform long-term planning and development at the site. Our studio brought in a trusted prefab partner, Off-the-Grid and their Cubert product, to enable the Y to  have a cafe that could be up and running by busy season and begin bringing in revenue right away.

Project Size: 25,000 square feet / 5,000 users; Our Role: pro bono Architect