Shilo Boucher, the CEO of the Saint John YMCA, said the final design has been crafted to meet the needs of all of the facility's future users. (CBC)

The final design plans for Saint John’s new YMCA will be unveiled on Friday after five years of preparations.

The new YMCA will be built on north side of Churchill Boulevard in Crescent Valley, sandwiched between two of the city's most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Shilo Boucher, the president and chief executive officer of the YMCA, said the final design has been crafted to suit everyone who will use the new facility.

"The Y has been here in Saint John for 158 years this year and we want to make sure it's here for another 158,” Boucher said.

“So it's very important to us that it works and it worked for the community. So we talked to our community partners and we've actually been engaging Crescent Valley and the old north end to get a sense of how they felt about it and they are very enthusiastic about it. We couldn't be happier."

Boucher said the last five years have been “quite an adventure” as the YMCA looked for the ideal site and design.

The new YMCA should open by the end of 2014.

The facility is expected to include a gymnasium, walking track, fitness area, 25-metre leisure pool, preschool centre, daycare area, after-school rooms, classrooms, computer lab, administration space and a café, according to the provincial government.

The province has contributed a 1.3-hectare parcel of land on Churchill Boulevard for $1 and kicked in $300,000 to help with the design work.