Many senior center directors dream of building a new facility…and live with the reality that it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. Being “stuck” with the building you’re in doesn’t mean that you have to live with all of its flaws—in most cases there are things that can be done to improve the ways in which a facility “works” for its programs, staff, and clients, without spending a lot of money.
Renovation on any scale should begin with the careful examination of existing conditions and options. If you want to consider adding or moving walls, doors or windows; or modifying the building systems in any way, it’s important to enlist the help of qualified design professionals who can identify hidden issues. For example, the addition of a wall to divide a space could impact the distribution of heating and air conditioning, the availability of electrical outlets and switches, and code-related safety requirements. Some existing walls can be moved or removed with relative ease—others, of structural significance, can be costly or impossible to alter. In some older structures, seemingly simple projects such as replacing old flooring or changing out windows may disturb asbestos- or lead-containing materials, requiring special measures for their safe removal. In cases where these kinds of issues appear to make the cost prohibitive, a qualified professional may be able to help you identify feasible, cost-effective alternatives.
Even when the physical renovation of the building itself isn’t possible, there may be a great deal that can be done to improve its functionality, appearance, and comfort. If your program offerings and attendance patterns have changed, while your building hasn’t, consider reassigning spaces to create a more functional arrangement. Look at ways in which a more suitably located (or sized) room could be modified to accommodate the programs you’d like to place there. If the center’s color scheme and furnishings are inappropriate or have grown dingy and outdated, replacing them with something noticeably fresh and user-friendly may have a profound impact on the way the facility is perceived by staff, clients, and visitors. Changes in lighting—such as adding fixtures and lamps, or replacing curtains with directional blinds—can help to eliminate problematic glare or dark spots, and support temperature control.
If you can’t build a new facility right now, think of the one you have in terms of what it can be, rather than what it isn’t. Just as your programs, staff, clients, and target groups are constantly changing in subtle and obvious ways, your facility must be adapted to stay in tune with these things, and serve them all effectively.
Ellen Gallow © 2006/first published in the newsletter of the Ohio Association of Senior Centers, Summer 2006 issue