IFMA St. Louis Program: Presentation and Tour of BGCSTL’s Teen Center of Excellence

The St. Louis Chapter of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) will get a firsthand look at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ (BGCSTL) new Teen Center for Excellence.

Opened in September 2019 in Ferguson, MO, the 27,000 square-foot Teen Center for Excellence serves youth from ages 12-18. One of the first such centers in the country, the center will “enrich our children’s lives and the city by helping its youth build strong character, graduate from high school with a plan for life and become productive citizens, ” says Dr. Flint Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President.

Its location was selected to create a positive environment in the community belabored with difficult realties and negative press.

Ruth Lederman, vice president of resource development, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, and Rachel Sarvis, architect with Acturis, will provide an overview of the center’s mission and design.

In collaboration with the client’s vision, Arcturis’ goal was to design a bright and engaging environment for the organization’s deserving youth, ages 12-18. The location of the new center is not only an important goal for the club but also a way to elevate the entire community. Situating the building as close to the street as possible will activate the street, draw people in and connect the project to the surrounding neighborhood. Obscured glazing around the gym allows for activity on the interior to be seen from the street edge while still maintaining a level of privacy. As the first piece of new construction in the area, it is hoped to be the cornerstone for future development.

Every design decision was made to respect the club’s needs regarding budget, durability and overall function. The Teen Center contains a basketball court, teaching kitchen, music studio, drama studio, auditorium, intellectual commons, innovation center, game room, fitness center, art room and staff offices.

Locating the intellectual commons at the center of the building maximizes the amount of programmed spaces and creates an internal atrium. White walls and raw materials are used to allow the interior to act as a blank canvas for the club while exposed structure and unique details allow teens to see nearly every building component. Bright vibrant pops of color are carried through to the interior on strategic architectural elements and furniture. Colorful metal window surrounds on the second floor dictate specific functions within the building allowing natural light to fill each space.

About IFMA St. Louis
IFMA St. Louis offers its members a learning and networking environment among its diverse membership and supplies its members with the tools to achieve their professional goals. Started in 1985, IFMA St. Louis has more than 250 members representing small and Fortune 500 companies throughout the region. Considered a leader among local chapters, IFMA St. Louis holds monthly programs to enhance members’ knowledge and provide networking opportunities. IFMA members also value their membership to build their careers, seek counsel and advice from other facility management professionals, access a variety of resources and achieve professional certification. Represented in 134 chapters and 16 councils worldwide, IFMA members manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than $526 billion in products and services. For more information, visit www.ifma.org.