By Gloria Vittadello
Staff Writer
After a fire destroyed Ewing Township's community center in 2022, officials are now rebuilding a facility nearly 60,000 square feet larger than the original.
The new 87,000-square-foot community center is set to officially open to residents in the first weeks of 2027, offering a wide range of recreational and community spaces, Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann said.
The facility will include an indoor track, two fit rooms for different levels, a cafe, a black box theater, a sound studio, a room to play pool, a multi-use gymnasium and a banquet room that holds up to 200 people. There are also going to be classrooms for art, computers and more, Steinmann said.
Construction has faced some delays due to weather, though officials say challenges have been manageable.
“We did have some weather this year,” Steinmann said. “There’s always challenges in a construction project. We had some, but not to a great extent.”
The new building is designed to fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, with features such as wheelchair-accessible information kiosks, two elevators, accessible restrooms and plans for an inclusive playground and sensory garden.
So far, the township has spent $34 million on the project, well below the expected estimate of $42 million, Steinmann said. While costs may rise slightly as construction wraps up, officials expect to remain under budget.
Township leaders have also updated residents throughout the planning and building process.
“We had a couple community meetings, to talk about the community center,” Steinmann said. “We had a lot of input from residents, but one was the indoor track.”
He did note that although some residents expressed interest in an indoor pool, limited space prevented it. There are two outdoor pools and a kiddie pool that will be open and operating this summer.
Growing with Ewing
Officials say that the expansion of the center parallels Ewing’s growth.
“This community is ever evolving,” Steinmann said. “We’re growing leaps and bounds.”
“By the time that’s built in another four years or so, there’s going to be over 3,000 people living there,” he said, shedding light on the new town center.
With its larger footprint, the center is expected to attract more visitors and generate revenue through event rentals and programming.
“I think it will have a great impact on residents,” Steinmann said. “They can do all the things now that were limited at the old building. Ewing Township really deserves a new, much better community center, and we’re offering that.”
The center was also built with high school and college students in mind.
“There are so many things people can take advantage of,” he said “The black box theater, for example. We can get theater groups basically to come in and put a performance on. High school kids or college kids can use it for practice. The sound studio is the same way, if you’re interested in that kind of career, that’s a perfect opportunity to learn that stuff.”
Programs like Simply Fit are going to facilitate aerobics classes for seniors, Steinmann added. He said there was a program for seniors at the old community center, but now the program is going to be expanded.
“The building is going to be accessible to everyone in our community as equally as it will be to someone who is able-minded or able bodied,” Julie Willmot, Ewing’s Communications Director, added.
The old with the new
The original community center had bathhouses designed by Louis Kahn, a well known architect. While building the new center, Steinmann said he wanted to pay tribute to Kahn’s work.
They hired the DI Group, an architecture firm based in New Brunswick, Steinmann said. They went to the University of Pennsylvania to study in its Khan exhibit.
“In the new building, the two front entrances are designed the same way as our bathhouses,” Steinmann said. “They did their homework and they did a nice job.”
There will also be murals throughout the building, paying ode to successful individuals from Ewing.
“We have a history wall that’s going to be incorporated throughout the whole building,” Steinmann said. “In the gymnasium itself, we have a wall that’s dedicated to all athletes that came from Ewing Township.”
Looking ahead
As the community center started to take shape, Steinmann expressed his excitement.
“I think this center will win an award,” Steinmann said with a smile.
Plans are starting to come together for opening day. Steinmann hopes Ewing residents will come out and celebrate with him.
“I’m like the expected father, I can't wait until this thing is done, I just can’t wait.”
