Renovation work and an addition at the Northville Parks & Recreation Center is under way to transform it into the new Northville Senior Community Center. Work began in October 2003 and is expected to be completed in June. The Northville Parks & Recreation Department, a department of the city of Northville and the charter township of Northville, will operate the Senior Community Center.

The existing 12,764-square-foot facility will receive architectural upgrades and a 7,500-square-foot addition to accommodate two new multipurpose rooms, a large centralized activities area with a fireplace, new building entrances, a reception area, and staff offices. An important element of the Northville Senior Community Center project is to maintain the look and historical significance of the original building, which is located on West Main Street in Northville's historical district. The project cost is estimated to be $2.9 million.

Activities at the Senior Community Center can accommodate craft shows and health clinics for the seniors, as well as many other community events. The facility might also be made available to the community for other events.

The new addition is structural steel with exterior metal studs and brick veneer. A great deal of glass curtain wall will be used on the west elevation to provide natural light in the facility.

"There are stone features that will tie-in to the façade of the existing building. The existing building is brick veneer, and the brick selected for the addition is a match to the existing building," Matthew L. Ratzow, project manager for Skanska USA Building, Inc., said. Skanska is the construction management firm for the project, working in conjunction with architects Fanning/Howery Associates.

The interior of the addition will include a considerable amount of wood trim. A suspended ceiling system will be installed called a Quadra Ceiling System made by USG Interiors that is made out of gypsum and mimics the appearance of wood. The ceiling appearance will be tied-in with the wood features throughout the facility.

"The facility will have many natural features such as wood doors, a stone fireplace and earth-tone colors," Ratzow said.

He said that the facility will have the latest technology, including wireless capability for Internet access. The facility will have multiple locations throughout the building where computers can be connected into the Internet.

"If users have needs that require the use of a computer, they can be accommodated," Ratzow said. New electrical service will be installed throughout the entire facility, along with a completely new mechanical system with air conditioning.

The bathrooms in the existing facility will be renovated and the existing terrazzo floor will be refurbished. There will also be renovated entrances into the existing building.

The project is a joint service between the city of Northville, the charter township of Northville and Northville Public Schools. Northville Public Schools owns the building and has a lease agreement with the Northville Parks & Recreation Department. Funding for the project is provided by the city of Northville and the charter township of Northville.