Michigan City-based Tonn and Blank Construction received an award from Engineering News-Record for its work on the Hammond Family YMCA.
The Hammond Family YMCA was named ENR Midwest Regional Best Project in the Specialty Construction category. The honor recognizes achievement in design and construction.
The award celebrates Tonn and Blank’s leadership in delivering the new 120,000- square-foot Hammond Family YMCA. The ENR award recognizes the technical and logistical success of the $70 million project and Tonn and Blank’s human-centered approach.
Located at 6532 Indianapolis Blvd, the YMCA opened in November 2024. It replaced the original South Hammond facility built in the 1960s. Today, it welcomes over 30,000 members and nearly one million visits per year. It features three pools, a wellness center, gymnasium, indoor track, child care and teen spaces and a teaching kitchen—all designed to serve residents of every age.
The Hammond Family YMCA exemplifies Tonn and Blank’s commitment to building spaces that strengthen communities. Working on a downtown site presented challenges, from tight construction logistics and ensuring continuity of YMCA programs during the transition, to coordinating complex work safely on a high-traffic urban site.
Despite the hurdles, Tonn and Blank completed the project ahead of schedule, on budget and with zero injuries. Tonn and Blank self-performed concrete work, including pool tanks, structural steel, roofing, interior framing and utilities, with final touches on flooring, casework, lighting, paving and landscaping. The team worked to involve residents throughout the construction process—hosting site tours for board members, donors, schools and YMCA members to share progress and build excitement.
“The Hammond Family YMCA represents decades of partnership and shared commitment to the YMCA’s mission,” said Jon Gilmore, Tonn and Blank Construction president and CEO, in a press release. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to support an organization dedicated to strengthening families and communities, and proud to build a facility that will serve Hammond residents for generations.”
