Expansion of teen center moves forward

An additional $344,000 for the Fiore Teen Center gym expansion was approved by the Thousand Oaks City Council last week.

The money will cover design modifications made after preliminary designs were presented to city staff last fall. Liberstudio Architects, Inc. in Santa Monica is the design consultant. According to the new amendment, consultant fees won't exceed $469,000.

A total of $2.9 million is budgeted for the project.

The planning commission will review the new design, which is described in the staff report as energy-efficient.

The expansion nearly doubles the current facility, with a new 9,000-square-foot fullsize gym with its own lobby and restrooms and bleacher seating for 200 people. The current gym is a three-quarter-size gym.

Located on Janss Road, next to the Thousand Oaks Library and the Goebel Senior Center, the gym opened in October 1989. The city began considering expanding the facility at the end of 2001.

"If you ever go out there, there are always a ton of kids there," said construction project coordinator Elizabeth Perez.

The two gyms will allow for multiple group activities, added Perez, including use by the neighboring senior center when activities aren't scheduled for young people.

"The senior center is always looking for space for large group activities," Perez said.

Construction is expected to begin next winter.