Wellesley+Community+Center

Wellesley Community Center
Wellesley Community Center (495 Sherbourne St.)

Ward: 28 Size: 54,000 square feet Project Cost: $10 million Design Firm: MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects Ltd. of Toronto Project Manager: Mario Pecchia Awards: for open layout, space, unit use, drainage system and lights and numerous for safety with the grip sections on the floors, etc.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm Saturday: 9am-6pm Sunday: 12pm-5pm

Provided Facilities: gymnasium, weight room, 3 multipurpose rooms, fitness studio, showers/change rooms and a small green grass patch outside Services: daycare center and second-level daycare courtyard (both free and shared connection to a paid one), City of Toronto Public Library Branch (connected to community center).

The Wellesley Community Center was a priority center approved by Toronto officials that wanted a place to bring St. James Town neighborhood together along with improving the quality of life in the impoverished immigrant community. Built recently in 2005 on top of an old parking lot, the hybird building takes account of the geography, needs and income of the community it provides for. Therefore, almost all of the facilities and programs provided are free aside from the shared daycare service located on the second floor. Due to this reason, there are many out there that are willing to help the community center. The community center is open to everyone, whether its youths, homosexuals or even the homeless.

The center is located on the east side of St. James Town and is surrounded by about 3 public schools. Hence, it is busiest during the weekdays between 3:30-8pm, with its majority visiters being grade 1-8. The center serves as both a literal and figurative gateway to St. James Town and allows a sense of community within the facility where anyone entering the building from eitehr Sherbourne or Bleecker streets) has direct access to city staff and information. This is such a big improvement from before, when the "community center" of St. James Town was in the basement of the school.

The building was created with the idea of "open concept," in which there are many windows, allowing one to see room to room and the outside world. This concept also allowed natural lighting to the interior, providing a tranquil glow that illuminates much of the public space that also helps save in the building's energy cost. The colour scheme of the building, with its cool colours, gives off a comforting, soothing and relaxing atmosphere. There is also a different colour scheme per room, allowing ease of recognition. The center is wheelchair accessible and contains many design features that support that, ranging from the no washroom doors concept to the double level water fountains. It also has handicap elevators. The center also appeals to the elderly with its washroom, mulipurpose room and library signage, that stands out with its massive size. There is air-conditioning in the building, cooling down the community during summer. The community center is also very safe, with its grip purpose walls and floors, and speed bumps outside to reduce traffic and car speed. The fire alarm also consists of safety features with its two-step alarm, with the first acting as a loud glass breaking warning that helps scare off any mischievious kids and the secodn level pulling as the actual thing. The building uses sensor lights and the rooms are card accessed (therefore one can shut a card down if lost). The alarm system is monitored by an exterior company and the surveillance system is monitored on TV. In addition to providing opportunities for indoor leisure activities (such as floor hockey, volleyball, basketball and such), the design maximizes exterior spaces by providing a variety of outdoor areas. On the west side, hard and soft landscaping connects the building to the street. On the east side, a playground and elevated plaza casually link community park space with the center.

There are 4 full time staff and around 25-30 part-time staff. There are many programs in the center, and all one has to do is register to join them. They are a first come first serve basis. One of the programs is a kid pick up program that helps out single parents. The staffs, on 1:10 kids ratio basis, pick them up from school and take care of them until their respective parents pick them up. They are like a second family member.

The center has also been used as an exam place for various universities as Ryerson and Windsor. Moreover, currently, advance polls run in the community center.


 * Sources:**

Listing of all the community centers in the southern Toronto area with facility descriptions: [| TorEY_FacilityList.pdf]

Recreational Management. "From Dream to Reality." - Article about the 2007 Facility Highlight: Wellesley Community Center http://www.recmanagement.com/200705aw2n.php

Toronto. "City of Toronto officially opens new Wellesley Community Centre and Toronto Public Library branch." April 6, 2005. - News article on the opening of the community center. http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/11476e3d3711f56e85256616006b891f/0448f5ac34e6a98485256fdb0052a57f?OpenDocument