Kingsport Senior Center atrium to be renovated

Come springtime, the Kingsport Senior Center will have 2,000 square feet of new space under its roof and available to use for a variety of programs, events and activities.

How that will happen is with the removal of the four large plant boxes in the first floor atrium of the senior center. The brick boxes are stationary, take up at least 80% of the space in the atrium and restrict the type of activities that can be held in this room, said Shirley Buchanan, director of the Kingsport Senior Center.

“The ceiling in the atrium room was replaced a couple of years ago and it’s beautiful, but nobody gets to enjoy it. The space is not workable,” Buchanan said. “Even though the plants are pretty, we need that space.”

The plan is for the boxes to be removed in the coming weeks and replaced with a vinyl wood-style floor by springtime. Comsa Construction of Kingsport has been awarded the contract for the $67,500 project.

Once all is said and done, the facility will gain about 2,000 square feet of usable space for weddings, receptions and other events as well as senior center programming such as meals, movies, lectures, dances and exercise classes.

“You can rent this space now, but it’ll be so much better in the future,” Buchanan said.

Kingsport allocated $225,000 in ARPA funds last fall to the Kingsport Senior Center for this renovation and a number of other possible projects and equipment purchases. One such purchase includes a new dust collecting system for the woodworking room.

The Kingsport Senior Center is located at 1200 E. Center Street on the first floor and has several branch sites across town. For more information visit seniors.kingsporttn.gov.