In 1908, a group of businessmen got together to organize the first YMCA in Huntsville. Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper, donated $7,500 toward the capital campaign. Work was begun in 1910 and the building was opened in 1912. The building served continuously as a YMCA until 1999, when it was purchased by the shareholders of Watson, Jimmerson, Martin, McKinney, Graffeo & Helms, P.C.

The 19,000-square-foot building is a four-story solid masonry construction with Neoclassical Italianate features, including a clay tile roof, large arched windows, exposed roof rafter tails, horizontal stone banding, and symmetrically positioned windows.

The new owners were determined to return the building to its original glory. Architect Joe Fuqua, of Fuqua & Partners Architects, worked with the law firm to restore many altered features to their original state, including the French doors along the front facade and a curved reception desk in the lobby. Most of the original architectural elements remain, including fireplaces, stairs with ornate balustrade, and tile and maple floors. Other details, such as the front steps which have been worn down by the feet of many generations of Huntsville children, the YMCA name above the front entrance, the YMCA cornerstone, and a portion of the circa 1950 wood basketball court, were unaltered.

 

The renovation made the building handicapped accessible and brought it into compliance with current code regulations. An elevator and interior fire exit stairs were added along with new electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. As many of the existing interior walls as possible were retained.

The building is located in the Twickenham Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Therefore, all plans had to be approved by the City of Huntsville's Historic Preservation Commission and completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The Central YMCA building restoration has won numerous design awards including the Historic Huntsville Foundation's Professional Achievement Award (2001), the Alabama Chapter AIA Merit Award (2001), and, in 2001, the Alabama Historical Commission's highest honor, the Roy Swayze Award. The Alabama Historical Commission's award criteria includes the significance of the building to the community, the amount of restoration completed by the candidate, the quality of the work, the level of personal involvement, and the willingness of the owners to share the knowledge with others.