The new Brookline Teen Center, Brookline, Mass., will be the only dedicated facility providing out-of-school activities for teens in grades seven to 12 who attend school or live in Brookline.
“As a social worker for Brookline High School, I saw a gap in local youth programs, as the town has no dedicated youth center, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club or Jewish Community Center,” says Paul Epstein, founder and president of the board of directors for the Brookline Teen Center. “There was a tremendous opportunity to provide a place that teens could call their own, where young people could gather after school and on weekends for constructive, educational and leisure activities.”
Situated in a former garage, the 12,000-square-foot space will undergo an extensive renovation to be transformed into a vibrant and modern environment suitable for teens. When complete, the space will feature a bowling alley, gym, recording studio, lounge, outdoor patio, cafe, aerobics dance studio, game rooms and study hall.
Designed to achieve LEED certification, the project features many efficient and environmentally responsible elements.
Expected to be completed this summer, the Brookline Teen Center was designed by studioMLA (Brookline, Mass.) and GMI (Boston). Kaplan Construction (Brookline, Mass.) is construction manager.
