The Sammamish Community and Aquatic Center’s gymnasiums are taking shape as crews began placing the roof Feb. 23.

The $33.8 million building, which sits behind the Sammamish Library, will be the first community gym or pool in Sammamish.

“People always say we have so many lakes, but there wasn’t any place for their children to learn to swim,” said city project manager Sevda Baran.

Baran and parks project manager Anjali Myer have been involved with the project for years, since its early stages in 2011.

Both are excited for the building to add to the synergy, as Myer put it, of the town’s growing center.

“It’s fitting well with the landscape,” Myer said. “We haven’t lost our views of Seattle from the plaza or the library.”

Once built, the YMCA will contract through the city to run the facility and will be responsible for providing the equipment, furniture and fixtures.

The Y contributed $5 million to construction costs.

Roughly 69,000 square feet, the center boasts two swimming pools, two gyms, a fitness center, locker rooms, a child care facility and various office spaces.

Porter Brothers Construction crews of between 40-60 people continue to erect inner metal framing for walls and lay the ventilation ducts.

The 125-ton crane used can be seen from 228th Avenue.

Next week crews will begin construction on the aquatic portion of the center.

This week crews also worked to erect the lower level of the parking garage. Above the underground structure there will be a surface parking walking lot.

In total, these spaces should accommodate 300 vehicles.

The six-lane lap pool, roughly 3,500 square feet, and the leisure pool, roughly 2,800 square feet, are located on the first floor.

The leisure pool will feature a slide and a lazy river.

The fitness area sits above the lap pool and overlooks the leisure pool.